Jazz Police - Maceo Parker’s Roots & Grooves

Saxophonist Maceo Parker’s double CD Roots & Grooves (Heads Up International) provides ample evidence that the man who creatively collaborated with, and shared the stage with, James Brown during the 1960’s is still one of the coolest cats on the planet. Parker’s album, released on February 12th of this year, was recorded live with Germany’s critically acclaimed WDR Big Band, during February and March of 2007. This may be as close to musical heaven as we will be in this life. The listener gets to enjoy a sensational big band that boasts an incredible horn section, consisting of five trumpeters, four trombonists, and five saxophonists, in addition to Parker. We are also presented with an opportunity to tap into Parker’s creative genius and outstanding musicianship.

The first CD is a tribute to the music of Ray Charles. Parker does a good job of interpreting the music, but as someone who grew up with Ray Charles’ music, I was astounded by how uncannily Parker sounds like Charles while singing these songs. The first time we get an opportunity to really appreciate the likeness occurs during “You Don’t Know Me,” a song originally written in 1955 by Eddie Arnold and Cindy Walker. Oddly enough, even though the Tennessee Plowboy Arnold charted 145 songs, “You Don’t Know Me” was not one of them. Although numerous other artists have recorded the tune, it was Ray Charles who took the song to the # 2 spot on the 1962 charts, and if released as a single, Parker could very well equal that accomplishment. His delivery of “You give your hand to me / Then you say hello / I can hardly speak / My heart is beating so” is soulful and heartbreaking. It is Parker’s ability to be vulnerable that gives authenticity to this confession of love.

The first disc contains several highlights associated with the music of Ray Charles, including Parker’s renditions of the in-your-face “Hit The Road Jack” and “Margie.” During “Margie,” the alto saxophonist blesses us with a fabulous solo, and trumpeter Klaus Osterloh is equally magnificent when he takes his turn. Dave Horter created a terrific arrangement for “Margie.”

The Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell song,“Georgia On My Mind,” first written in 1930, has been recorded by legendary artists such as, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, “Fats” Waller, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Gladys Knight and The Righteous Brothers, but once again it was Ray Charles who first brought the song notoriety in 1960 when he recorded it for his The Genius Hits The Road record. Maceo Parker ups the stakes, as he serves up emotively charged phrases during his performance of “Georgia On My Mind.” If you watch or listen to one of the videos of Ray Charles singing “Georgia On My Mind” floating around on the youtube website, you will be blown away at just how closely Parker’s diction matches that of Charles.

Roots & Grooves, however, is more than just a tribute to Ray Charles, and if disc one is the entrée, then disc two is nothing less than the crème de la crème of desserts. Parker and the WDR Big Band, with conductor Michael Abene at the helm, give us six lengthy funk-filled tracks, including the 17:48 odyssey,“Pass The Peas.”

The remaining five tracks are all Parker original compositions, and you probably will not be surprised when I tell you that each one of them is a precious jewel. Our funky ride starts with “Uptown Up,” featuring lots of horns led by Parker’s alto-voiced sax. Parker cut his teeth on funk playing on the James Brown tunes, “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag,” “I Feel Good” and “Out Of Sight,” and he draws on that wealth of experience. Parker revs up his funkadelic engine on “To Be Or Not To Be,” and alto saxophonist Karolina Strassmeyer takes us for a mind-bending solo drive. Electric Wind Instrumentalist (EWI) Olivier Peters also joins the party.

Former Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Rodney “Skeet” Curtis joins Parker for “Off The Hook,” 8:02 of bliss. My personal favorite from the second disc is the sixth track, “Advanced Funk,” which features some deep grooves cut by Frank Chastenier’s Hammond B3 organ. John Marshall turns in a splendid trumpet solo, as does Parker on his saxophone. On the following tune, “Shake Everything You Got,” Parker’s vocals will strike a chord with fans of James Brown’s early sixties music.

The two-CD set of Roots & Grooves is probably the best CD or digital investment you will make this year. There is a lot of good music out there, but it would be difficult to dispute that this collection of songs from Maceo Parker and the WDR Big Band offers more great music than you are going to find on any other music collection released during 2008 by one artist and one band.