Maceo Parker brings the funk to Beaver Creek
ALL |
If James Brown is the Godfather of Soul, Maceo Parker is the godson.
When it comes to funky music, Parker has been there every step of the way – first as an admirer of soul-jazz saxophonists Cannonball Adderley and David “Fathead” Newman in the ’50s and later as a band mate to James Brown in the ’60s and George Clinton in the ’70s.
In addition to his impressive residencies with the Godfather, the various Parliament incarnations and Prince, Parker has collaborated with Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, James Taylor, Keith Richards, De La Soul, Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. At 68, he has maintained a loyal following while generating a new, youthful fan base in his solo career.
“Well, you know what? Somehow, I guess with the tradition and connecting with James Brown and George Clinton, a lot of people want to play with me – not just the youngins, but a lot of the old ones too,” he said.
Asked if he has a favorite era or a favorite group he has played with, Parker laughed loudly and said, “Now, that’s a first. That’s a good one. … The James Brown stuff was very exciting, being on stage and traveling and all that stuff. I enjoyed the George Clinton stuff too, because he had a wider range, and I enjoyed the Prince stuff. And I enjoy what I do now, so it’s really, really hard to say. But if I had to pick, I’d probably say now.”
Support Local Journalism
JB and the Parkers
Parker and his slightly younger brother Melvin got their big break in 1964 when James Brown happened upon a North Carolina nightclub where Melvin was playing a gig. Impressed with the younger drummer brother, Brown invited Melvin to play a future gig. According to Parker’s biography, when they arrived at the show, Melvin burst out, “Oh, by the way, Mr. Brown, this is my brother, Maceo. He plays saxophone, and he needs a job too.”
Parker said he believes things like that happen for a reason. It was a perfect arrangement: James Brown could sing and he could take over the solos on sax, just like he had seen on television.
“I thought it was really cool when you see on TV the big band stuff – someone is singing and someone is up there doing whatever. And then pretty soon the guy comes from behind the stand and walks up to the center of the stage and do a little chorus or whatever. I thought that was so cool,” he said.
For Parker, playing with James Brown was “it,” and despite some rumors to the contrary, he denies having written a lot of Brown’s music.
“He would hear stuff all the time,” Parker said. “Everytime he heard something, even if it was a small idea, he would rush, rush, rush into the studio and try to complete it. That was his thing. He would hear a BOP-da-ba-da-BOP – something like that. And we did the best we could to create whatever we thought he heard.”
A funky family
For more than 60 years, playing music has always been a family affair. Parker got his start listening to his uncle and playing with his two brothers in North Carolina.
“I had one brother (who) played trombone and another brother played drums,” Parker said. “We just all felt like we had a group. And my uncle had a band, so we would go to his rehearsals, and I would try do what I heard them do, you know, the older guys.”
Melvin remained his drummer until recently when his son – Parker’s nephew – replaced him.
Tonight, when the band takes the Vilar Center stage, it’ll be down one horn player – the trombonist from their usual arrangement – but Parker said no one will know the difference.
“We try to bring a party thing, you know, let loose. Forget about your troubles. Put all that stuff on the side for a minute and come have some party,” he said. “Have a good time with us. That’s always been my concept. If you’re feeling like you need to party, come on up. We’re gonna bring it.”
As for how long Parker is going to keep playing, the simple answer is as long as he can.
“Everyone asks how long am I gonna continue to do it, what keeps me going. It ain’t nothing but a big old bold-face L-O-V-E,” he said. “I love music. I love performing. I love playing the saxophone. And I love people. I really feel like I’m doing what I was born to do.”
