The Jazz Organ Scene

USA

Maceo Parker Maceo (*1943 in Kinston, North Carolina) and his brother Melvin, a drummer, joined James Brown in 1964; in his autobiography, Brown claims that he originally wanted Melvin as his drummer, but agreed to additionally take Maceo under his wing as part of the deal. In 1970, Maceo, his brother Melvin, and a few of Brown's band members left to establish the band Maceo & All the King's Men, which toured for two years.   In January 1973, Maceo rejoined with James Brown. In 1975, Parker and some of Brown's band members, including Fred Wesley, left to join George Clinton's band Parliament-Funkadelic. Maceo once again re-joined James Brown from 1984 to 1988.   In the 1990s, Parker began a solo career. His first album of this period "Roots Revisited" spent 10 weeks at the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts. His band has been billed as "the greatest little funk orchestra on earth" and the "million-dollar support band". Parker's 1992 live album "Life on Planet Groove" is considered to be his seminal live album, marking his first collaboration with Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer.   In 1993, Parker made guest appearances on hip hop group De La Soul's album Buhloone Mindstate. In the late 1990s, Parker began contributing semi-regularly to recordings by Prince and accompanying his band, The New Power Generation, on tour. He also played on the Jane's Addiction track "My Cat's Name Is Maceo" for their 1997 compilation album Kettle Whistle. In 1998, Parker performed as a guest on "What Would You Say" on a Dave Matthews Band concert, which also became one of their live albums, Live in Chicago 12.19.98.   In 2007, Parker performed as part of Prince's band for Prince's 21 nights at the O2 arena. Parker also played as part of Prince's band for his 21-night stay at LA's Forum in 2011. In 2008, Maceo Parker closed the Edmonton International Jazz Festival at Urban Lounge.   Parker's album Roots & Grooves with the WDR Big Band (WDR stands for Westdeutscher Rundfunk) is a tribute to Ray Charles, whom Parker cites as one of his most important influences. The album won a Jammie for best Jazz Album in 2009. Parker followed this up with another collaboration with WDR Big Band in 2012 with the album Soul Classics. In October 2011, Parker was inducted in the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.   In July 2012, Parker was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Victoires Du Jazz in Paris. In May 2016, Parker received The North Carolina Heritage Award from his home state. He continues touring, headlining many jazz festivals in Europe and doing as many as 290 concerts a year.   from Wikipedia

contact:
homepage:	www.maceo.com
	Click on the logo to see Maceo's tour dates.

	n/a
	n/a

Back
 
If you don't see the left hand menu,
please go back to the homepage.
Back to the homepage