JAZZFEST BIBLE 2022 Feature
[“A Spiritual Uncle and Nephew” by Brett Milano]
"Guitar slinger Darren Hoffman and master drummer Shannon Powell are Uncle Nef…” continue reading here
Offbeat MagazinE
[“Love Songs” LP Review by Brett Milano]
"The cross-generational lineup means that it’s largely about absorbing each other’s influences: On one hand, the duo’s original tune “Beat to Eat” is classic-model New Orleans R&B, while the song “It Hurts” (which has echoed guitar, a recited lead vocal...” … continue reading here
Music-NEWS.COM
[“Love Songs” LP Review by Andy Snipper]
"The music is stirring and happy-making, steeped in the best traditions of New Orleans jazz and laden with rhythms and forms from all over the last 50 years…. A really terrific album, well worth investing the time to get close to.” … continue reading here
RnR MagazinE
[“Love Songs” LP Review by Norman Darwen]
“The vastly experienced and highly respected New Orleans drummer and singer Shannon Powell and Florida-born guitarist Darren Hoffman combine to make a seemingly unlikely blues duo, one that combines the traditional and the new. …. Love Songs is a modern set firmly rooted in the blues but which also succeeds in clearly transcending the genre.“ … continue reading here
Blues in Britain Magazine
[100 Club London, Concert Review by Kate Pieroudis]
“It's not often a New Orleans drumming great struts into the 100 Club armed only with drum sticks and a fantastic blues guitarist by his side, and lets rip a raw, tour de force set featuring Leadbelly, Nirvana and Louis Jordan, tinged with heartfelt originals. Uncle Nef ‘King of The Treme' Shannon Powell and guitarist Darren Hoffman, stunned the crowd with a heart-stopping set full of pathos, including a so-stripped-down-it-was-barely-real 'St. James Infirmary', alongside swinging originals that had the crowd Lindy Hopping with reckless abandon.” continue reading here
ANR FACTORY UK
[Single Review by Amelia Vandergast]
“Uncle Nef took an admirable direction with their latest single Beat to Eat, just how many genres they managed to pack into the progression of the track is mind blowing alone. There isn’t a hint of predictability to the track… and it’s safe to say Blues has never sounded sexier…” continue reading here
Offbeat MagazinE
[“Blues” EP Review by Geraldyne Wychoff]
"First off, the leaders representing Uncle Nef are drummer and vocalist Shannon Powell and guitarist Darren Hoffman. Okay, that explains that though with Powell aboard it’s easy to have certain expectations – rarely a good idea – of what direction the music might take. The title of the four-cut EP, Blues, offers evidence to the material though at first listen the results still come as a bit of a surprise.
The disc opens with Hoffman’s guitar almost acting as a bass on the John Lee Hooker staple, “Shake It Baby....” continue reading here
Offbeat MagazinE
[Interview with Amanda Mester]
"Now performing and recording as Uncle Nef, Hoffman and Powell were once teacher and student but have graduated to musical family..." continue reading here