New York, May 28: Veteran New Orleans-based vocalist Aaron Neville plans to release an album of his interpretations of American standards. Due Aug. 26, "Nature Boy" is his first album under a new deal with Verve. The collection features Neville working through songs by the likes of Nat "King" Cole, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin, among others.
Neville is joined on "Nature Boy" by collaborators Linda Ronstadt, Roy Hargrove, Ry Cooder, Michael Brecker, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, and Anthony Wilson.
"These are some bad cats," Neville said in a statement about working with that group of musicians. "They got the mood just right. For me, jazz is all about mood. Jazz is all about standards that are connected to your soul, connected to your life."
The Cole song "Nature Boy" serves as the title track to the album, which was produced by Rob Mounsey. Other featured songs include "The Very Thought of You" with Ronstadt, "Cry Me a River," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "Summertime," "In the Still of the Night," "Blame It on My Youth," and "Our Love Is Here To Stay."

"My folks taught me that music, love and God are all one thing," Neville said. "So in singing these standards -- these romantic songs that get prettier with each passing year -- I feel more than an earthly love. I feel the force of God, the spirit of all love."

Neville's most recent effort, the gospel record "Believe" (Tell It/EMI Gospel), debuted in February at No. 191 on The Billboard 200.
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