Let's Get Funky, A Review of Maceo Parker
by Good News Reporter, Joanne Quinn-Smith
Just attending the Maceo Parker concert at the Byham Theater on
January 16 would have been enough to convince you that his fans are an eclectic
group ranging from James Brown era boomers to current college students. I was a accompanied by my nephew Josh Kurnot, 23 year old, Mechanical Engineering Student from West Virginia University. He had never heard of Maceo and quickly became a fan. Maceo is known as the funkadylic sax of the
James Brown Band.
Now a little education
for those of you are not schooled in the music genre called "funk." It is a genre that originated in the mid
to
late 1960s when African-American musicians discovered the rhythmic, danceable
combination of soul music, jazz and R&B using the strong rhythm groove of
electric bass and drums and in, my mind, hi-lighting brass instruments. Funk uses the same extended chords as bepop
jazz, often extending one vamp on a single chord. James Brown developed the signature
"groove" that emphasized the downbeat leaning heavily on the first
beat of every measure, funky bass line, drum patterns and syncopated guitar
riffs.
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| picture by Pittsburgh Cultural Trust |
Not getting it yet?
Getting funky with these extended vamps will have your head bopping,
dancing, dancing in your seats and having fun especially if it is to Maceo
Parker's famed alto sax and the amazing trombone of Dennis
Rollins who often graces the audience along with Maceo in vocals with his
sultry deep baritone.
At 72, Maceo is still the consummate performer. He
and his "super band" are the epitome of funk entertainment. Each is a celebrated musician in his own
right making the audience experience delightful for "smorgasbord
listening." Dennis Rollins on
trombone, Will Boulware on keyboards, Bruno Speight on guitar, Rodney “Skeet”
Curtis on bass, Marcus Parker (son of Maceo’s brother and long-time drumming
partner Melvin) on drums, Martha High singing backup and Darliene Parker
(Maceo’s cousin) singing backup as well.
Darliene Parker adds so much energy and absolute
mirth and sex appeal to the backup singing but her solo of "Stand by
Me" could almost stand alone along with her scat duo with Maceo on the
flute. Spellbinding!
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| picture by Josh Kurnot |
These musicians perform as though they were born to be on the stage, performing. And it is obvious they are having a rollicking
good time with joking and comical antics.
The show is a musical rodeo that really ropes you in with equal parts of
fun antics and exciting musical execution.
We should all have careers where we have as much fun as Maceo's band
does. And this translated to the live performance at the Byham.
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| picture by Josh Kurnot |
In old-school jazz show fashion, the band led off
the night vamping a Latin groove as the back-up singers announced a “Funky
Fiesta.” Soon, Parker took the stage, and the show moved into full-on funk time
with “Off the Hook,” as in the funk is off the hook. It’s a Parker concert
chestnut, as are “Make It Funky” (a James Brown number)"Baby Knows"
and "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag."
There are also tributes to Marvin Gay and of course Maceo's impression
of and tribute to Ray Charles.
Still Maceo's mesmerizing
saxophone playing remains the biggest reason to go see his show. Whether in
tandem bouts with Boyer or soloing on his own, he retains the style and
substance that made him a funk icon. Lest we forget “I Got You (I Feel Good)"--James
Brown, James can be heard in many recordings shouting, "Maceo, I want to
blow." Even James was a fan! Maceo
is fond of saying that his music is 98%
funky stuff and only 2% Jazz and he has a book out by the same name:
If you missed the show and
you get a chance, please for the memory of your life, don't make the second
mistake twice.
Joanne Quinn-Smith, Award winning internet radio broadcaster,
