Roots & Grooves

MACEO PARKER: Roots & Grooves
Heads Up, 2008

The former James Brown sideman plays his funky alto saxophone in concert with a German big band, and sounds surprisingly natural doing it. Disc 1 is a tribute to Ray Charles, and when Maceo sings (!) you’ll swear it’s Ray himself. Disc 2 is more of a straight-up funk jam with a tight rhythm section. Both are great: way, way better than I expected.

Fo’s Picks: Disc 1 – 1, 2, 4, 8 Disc 2 – 1, 2, 6

DISC ONE:

1. 6:38 – rollicking, good-time instrumental: good sax & organ solos; fun!
2. 3:54 – relaxed tempo, world-weary vocal, lots of brass, bluesy guitar
3. 6:13 – instrumental, nice walking groove & flashy horn arrangement
4. 6:24 – sweet ballad, outstanding vocals channel Ray Charles perfectly
5. 5:09 – hepcat stomp, cool vocals & tenor sax, song is only 3:43
6. 6:02 – big Vegas sound, relaxed tune, warm vocal
7. 6:17 – laid-back “Georgia” with heartfelt vocal & Fender Rhodes
8. 9:36 – the big finale: a rolling, uptempo hip-shaker

DISC TWO:

1. 5:58 – medium-tempo funk groove; pure Maceo
2. 6:23 – slightly faster: supercool funky riffs, goofy vocal, hot sax duel
3. 8:03 – funky slide: cool sax but the big band doesn’t work for me here
4. 7:11 – brassy swagger, a slow burn with hot trumpet & organ
5. 7:08 – relaxed tempo, digs in nicely but feels restrained
6. 17:48 – midtempo jam, just keeps going and going… 6-minute drum solo!

[ Fo ] 8-Mar-08