Soul Classics

by Maceo Parker

Overview

Maceo Parker's brilliant legacy as the saxophonist in James Brown's '60s and '70s bands is never far from his musical thoughts -- and on this explosive, funked- and jazzed-up live set, he digs into those glory days with a bold, brassy, and pumped-up twist on "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (featuring Parker on vocals and sax) and a drum, bass, and improvisation-heavy romp through "Soul Power." These are the centerpiece tracks on a live concert recording of a high-energy November, 2011 show at the Leverkusener Jazz Festival in Leverkusener, Germany -- a set that backs Parker's own small group (bass great Christian McBride and drummer Core Coleman-Dunham) with the WDR Big Band, a Cologne-based 15-piece orchestra led by conductor/arranger Michael Abene. It's a reunion of sorts for the saxophonist and this dynamic ensemble, who worked together on the similarly dynamic 2008 set Roots & Grooves, a set of covers and originals dedicated to Parker's greatest musical influence, Ray Charles. The saxman's intent here is to cover a wider range of soul music that has influenced him and those of subsequent generations, and his choice of material and arrangements are stellar, fluid, and grooving to the point where toe tapping, singing, and dancing along is inevitable. Best among the choices are expansive spins through two irrepressible Stevie Wonder gems, "I Wish" (whose eight minutes allow for plenty of horn sizzle and a feisty drum solo) and the swinging, bluesy "Higher Ground." Parker pays homage to Aretha Franklin with a simmering, sizzling "Rock Steady," and cools his heels on covers of deep R&B tracks by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Isaac Hayes, and a smooth, jazzy stroll through Larry Graham's "One in a Million You." Parker adds to his own catalog as a composer on the final track, "Come by and See Me," a freewheeling jam that channels Brown's spirit perfectly. After nearly five decades in the spotlight, Parker was still looking forward -- and his audience couldn't get enough. ~ Jonathan Widran

Product Details

Release Date:	06/07/2024
Label:	Moosicus
UPC:	4017425120127
Rank:	242760

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Maceo Parker   Primary Artist,Vocals,Sax (Alto)
WDR Big Band Cologne   Primary Artist
Karolina Strassmayer   Sax (Alto),Flute,Clarinet
Johan Hoerlen   Flute,Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Paul Heller   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor),Flute
Wim Both   Trumpet
Christophe Schweizer   Trombone
Rob Bruynen   Trumpet
Olivier Peters   Flute,Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
Jens Neufang   Flute,Clarinet,Sax (Baritone)
Marshall Gilkes   Trombone
Paul Shigihara   Guitar
Ludwig Nuss   Trombone
Mattis Cederberg   Trombone (Bass)
Michael Abene   Conductor
Klaus Osterloh   Trumpet
Cora Coleman Dunham   Drums
John Marshall   Trumpet
Andy Haderer   Trumpet
Christian McBride   Bass
Frank Chastenier   Clavinet,Fender Rhodes

Technical Credits

James Brown   Composer
Maceo Parker   Composer
Leon Huff   Composer
Aretha Franklin   Composer
Gretchen Hoffman Abene   Management
Natasha Maddison   Management
Knut Schotteldreier   Cover Design
Annette Hauber   Production Coordination
Ines Kaiser   Photography
Marko Schneider   Mastering
Christian Schmitt   Recording Producer
Sam Dees   Composer
Michael Abene   Arranger
Reinhold Nickel   Engineer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Lucas Schmid   Executive Producer
Kenny Gamble   Composer
Klaus Genuit   Mixing
Isaac Hayes   Composer
Joachim Becker   Producer