And what kind of music is that, you ask? It's organ-driven soul-jazz with a bit of rock and sometimes funk and swing thrown in. What elevates this record among the large pack of anonymous fusion of this ilk are the Larsen originals that are a little better than average (especially "Demonette," which I remember as the standout track from my cutout LP) and a much better than average band that includes Robben Ford, his old Blue Line drummer Tom Brechtlein, and Yellowjackets bassist extraordinaire Jimmy Haslip. Produced by classic Crusaders producer Stewart Levine, this set sounds a lot like what crossover jazz was before it lost much of it's soul and morphed itself into smooth jazz.
Maceo Parker Roots & Grooves
James Brown's saxophone sensation Maceo Parker has been as much an evangelist for traditional soul and funk as Wynton Marsalis is for traditional jazz. On the live 2 CD Roots & Grooves, he makes that mission crystal clear, devoting one disc to covers of Ray Charles classics and another disc renditions of his more popular funk tunes (including the crowd favorite "Pass The Peas"). Maceo is backed by a pretty large band that's playing air-tight grooves, which tells you how serious Parker is about this project.
My blog buddy Nick Deriso will be providing the whole lowdown on this upcoming release, so I won't delve any further here. But don't wait until he gives his spiel before pre-ordering; just do it now. You can read about what a great purchase you made later.
"Quickies" are mini-record reviews of new or upcoming releases. Some albums are just that much more fun to listen to than to write about.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Porcupine Tree instrumental atmospherics? I may just have to check out this Caspar Brötzmann dude...
-Glen
2 - Mark Saleski
hmmm, sounds like i've gotta check out this Eivind Aarset person.
never heard of that Metheny guy.
3 - Pico
Metheny is that dude who once stated he'd wrap a guitar around Kenny G's head if he ever met him ;&)
4 - Tom Johnson
I didn't know David Spade was a nu-jazz guitarist. "Yeah, I played nu-jazz . . . when it was called fusion." Sorry, just trying to come up with something that would sound like a Spade quip.
5 - Pico
Ha! I figured that the PT reference would get Glen's and TJ's attention and I was right ;&)
6 - Mark Saleski
Day Trip isn't blow-you-away good...
heathen.
7 - Glen Boyd
Sounds like Pico is trying to coax Kenny G's assistant out of hiding...
-Glen
8 - Pico
"never heard of that Metheny guy."
"heathen."
you got up to speed on Metheny mighty fast ;&)
9 - MikeyPlaya
"Maceo Parker always has it down tight. I saw him live a few years back and never forgot it. He is playing horns on Teddy Brents single Vanity.
Love live James Brown *crowd chant*"
----- ChildofDestiny, how true how true. I got that song by Brent on Itunes