He is a bassist born in St. Louis and raised in University City, Missouri, who started in music by using the Suzuki method when he was learning the violin when he was just three.
He played the instrument for many years until he switched his allegiance to the bass while he was attending high school. After leaving high school he moved to Louisiana where he attended the universities at Tulane and New Orleans.
He began performing at the local clubs at became acquainted with many of the musicians and after being offered the chance to tour Europe with the Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet he made the decision to leave his studies and take the plunge to become a full-time musician.
A couple of years later he became a member of the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine and settled in New York when he was twenty one. He stayed with Elvin Jones until he was about twenty five and then went to work with Diana Krall as a touring member. He remained with her for about twelve months before going to work with Betty Carter. He stayed in her band until she passed away about a year after he had joined. He then had a short stay with the Benny Green Trio.
In 2000 he became a member of the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band and he has been a musician with them until present day. He also ventured into making his own solo recordings and released his debut CD Backstabber’s Ball in 2005 which features his own compositions performed by his own quartet.
During the course of his career to date he has played in every continent and at many acclaimed venues such as the Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole’ Opry, the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center, Royal Albert Hall, and the Sydney Opera House along with appearing at many of the top international jazz festivals.
He has been heard on several television shows and radio broadcasts and given performances with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the Malaysian Philharmonic, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra among others. He has also played on Broadway as a member of the orchestra for the production of the Pajama Game.
The numerous artists he has worked with are too many to mention but they include Alex Acuna, Wes Anderson, Marc Anthony, Kim Burrell, Michel Camilo, Jimmy Cobb, Paulinho da Costa, Dr. John, Russell Malone, Ellis Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, Eric Reed, David Torkanowsky and Freddie Washington among countless others.
Some of the many recordings he has appeared on include Next Generation by Harold Battiste Jr., Harry for the Holidays by Harry Connick Jr., Southern Exposure by Dorothy Doring, March of the Malcontents by Ned Goold, Strange Fruit by Irvin Mayfield, Woman Alone with the Blues by Maria Muldaur, Inside Out by Stephen Riley and 1533 St. Philip Street by Kermit Ruffins.
In 2011 he was back on Broadway performing in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
In 2017 he performed with many artists and ensembles including The Jerry Welden Quartet, The Brandon Sanders Quintet and The Ai Murakami Trio feat. Sacha Perry.
Here is with his quartet performing “The Hempire Strikes Back” from Backstabbers Ball…
Sources:
- http://www.nealcaine.com/?itemCategory=28805&siteid=157&priorId=0
- http://www.nealcaine.com/?siteid=157&itemcategory=29334&priorId=0&pid=28808
- http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=2607
- http://www.smallsrecords.com/caine-bb.htm
- https://www.smallslive.com/artists/1490-neal-caine/
- http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=488380
- http://www.harryconnickjr.com/us/music/harry-broadway-act-1
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/neal-caine-p374695/credits