Saxophonist Maceo Parker embodies the legacy of soul and funk music like no other musician can. Always at the forefront, Maceo has been a common thread in the history of funk – helping to pioneer the sound of the genre in collaborations alongside seminal icons like James Brown, George Clinton, and Prince, all the while honing his own signature brand of showmanship. Leading his flawlessly tight band with a cool confidence, Maceo transports audiences to the slickest of eras in performances that are positively timeless. Maceo says about his February 2018 release, “I feel like we can’t say the word enough. We all could use a little more love in the world, and so I wanted to have an album that encompasses just that.” It’s All About Love features the WDR Big Band with beautiful arrangements by Michael Abene. It is a fitting celebration of Maceo’s birthday (on Valentine’s Day) and of the longevity and importance of his role in musical history.
There are no tour dates listed for this artist.
HI-RES IMAGES
^ Photo Credit: Boris Breuer
^ Photo Credit: Philip Ducap
^ Photo Credit: Ines Kaiser
^ Photo Credit: Laurent Graffion
VIDEO
Make It Funky (Embed)
Pass The Peas (Embed / Download)
BIOGRAPHY/PROGRAM NOTES
Biography: Download (doc)
It’s All About Love Press Release: Download (doc)
Official Website: www.maceoparker.com
CURRENT RELEASE
It’s All About Love (Released Feb 23, 2018)
PRESS REQUESTS
Natasha Maddison
natasha4mp@aol.com
Please contact IMN’s Director of Marketing with any additional questions.
New Maceo Parker Album!
From Mascot Label Group / Funk Garage The legendary Maceo Parker annouces the inaugural album of The Funk Garage Funk legend Maceo Parker is to release his first new studio album in 8 years. ‘Soul Food – Cooking with Maceo’ will be released on 26 June and will be the first album on the Mascot Label Group new imprint, The...
Posted May 1st, 2020
Maceo Parker on Prince, Life, Love And Music
From Forbes ‘Prince Was A Sweetheart’ Funk Legend Maceo Parker On James Brown, Prince, Life, Love And Music By: OISIN LUNNY “There was no one more instrumental in building the musical canon of hip-hop than James Brown, reportedly the most sampled man in music. No less than 12,168 of his samples (and counting) are currently listed on WhoSampled.com. Some of...
Posted Jun 28th, 2019
Maceo Parker, prolific as ever
From The Metro At 76 James Brown’s saxophonist Maceo Parker is a prolific as ever By: ASHLEY DAVIES “FOR those who heard the late, great James Brown on stage, sing-shouting, mid-song: ‘I want you to BLOW, May-see-oh,’ and been puzzled about what that meant, you can wonder no more. He was addressing Maceo Parker ‘” the saxophone virtuoso who provided...
Posted Jun 1st, 2019
Funk is key for Maceo Parker
From sfgate.com Funk is key to jazz of sax great Maceo Parker By: Terence McArdle Saxophonist Maceo Parker has scored the funk trifecta. In the 1960s, the trenchant, bluesy wail of his horn served as a foil for James Brown’s screams and grunts on such classics as “Cold Sweat.” The following decade, he toured with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic just...
Posted May 17th, 2019
Putting the Funk in Funk ‘n’ Roll Weekend
From Minnesota StarTribune Maceo Parker puts the funk in Funk ‘n’ Roll Weekend honoring Prince By: Jon Bream Of course, you could count on Maceo Parker to put the funk in the second annual Funk ‘n’ Roll Weekend sponsored by the PRN Alumni Foundation. Not only is the veteran saxophonist an alum of Prince’s organization but he played many years...
Posted Oct 15th, 2018
Maceo Makes It Funky
From Daily Record Maceo still makes it funky, with love By: Bill Nutt ‘Maceo, blow your horn!’ During his legendary live shows, James Brown would exhort his saxophonist, Maceo Parker, with that injunction. More than 50 years after they began collaborating, Parker is still following Brown’s famous command. One of the most respected sax players in funk, Parker has distinguished...
Posted Aug 10th, 2018
Maceo Parker Brings the Love to Jazz Alley
From The Seattle Times Saxophonist Maceo Parker brings the music and the love to Jazz Alley By: Alexa Peters Celebrated saxophonist Maceo Parker has spent more than 50 years playing steadily with some of the most important musicians of the 20th century. To the outside world, he’s a legend. To Parker, it was just meant to be. Parker brings his...
Posted Aug 7th, 2018
Maceo Parker at The Newt
From The Sparta Independent James Brown’s sax man at The Newt While most sax players have followed in the footsteps of jazz legends like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, Maceo Parker has consistently marched to a different tune. It was Parker’s recurring stints in James Brown’s band that not only produced some of the most enduring entries in the vast...
Posted Jul 16th, 2018
Maceo Parker: Channeling Charles
From The Australian Maceo Parker: Channelling Charles, via James Brown and Prince By: Andra Jackson Maceo Parker was just 18 when he made a vow outside the dressing-room of his idol Ray Charles. Parker had attended a concert by the blind soul singer-pianist and, in the afterglow of hearing him, found his way to the dressing-room area to feel closer....
Posted May 18th, 2018
Best Moments From The 2017 Newport Jazz Festival
From Billboard Esperanza Spalding, Maceo Parker & 5 Other Best Moments From the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival By: Natalie Weiner Parker has been putting on shows for half a century, and he wasn’t about to stop at Newport ‘” the funk maestro appeared ageless as he danced around the stage to classics from various stages of his career, and some...
Posted Aug 7th, 2017
Maceo Brings The Funk
From Jazz Corner Maceo, Blow! Iconic Saxophonist Brings the Funk to the Newport Jazz Festival on Friday, August 4 By: Carolyn McClair What does it mean when the master of funk, the legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker and his impeccably tight band take over the Fort Stage at the Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management on Friday, August...
Posted Jul 17th, 2017
Maceo Parker Saves The Day
From Best of New Orleans Sunday at Jazz Fest By: Will Coviello Maceo Parker and his band took the slot in the jazz tent. Parker is known for anchoring the funk in the bands of James Brown and George Clinton as well as backing Prince at times. He mixed heavy funk with some jazz. Most of his stellar band’s members...
Posted Apr 30th, 2017
Storytelling with Maceo Parker
From Press of Atlantic City The Biggest Names In Jazz Swing To Cape May For The Exit Zero Jazz Festival By: Rebecca King This year at Exit Zero, Parker will dedicate his incredible talent on the sax to honoring Ray Charles’ legacy and croon all of his best-known songs like ‘Busted’ and ‘Hit the Road Jack.’ Prior to the festival,...
Posted Apr 19th, 2017
Funk and soul jazz legend Maceo Parker
From WGN Radio Funk and soul jazz legend Maceo Parker: ‘I feel lucky everytime I get to perform in Chicago’ The great funk legend Maceo Parker joins Justin to talk about his career, his memories of playing in Chicago, coming from a musical family, how he met and came to play with James Brown, what he learned from James Brown,...
Posted Feb 10th, 2017
Maceo Parker Brings Legendary Funk to Campbell Hall
From UCSB Daily Nexus Maceo Parker Brings Legendary Funk to Campbell Hall By: Savanah Marshall Opening for Parker was The Jones Family Singers, a band made up of family members from Houston, Tex. Performing in the style of gospel blues and jazz, this was their Santa Barbara debut. They had amazing stage presence, directing the audience to stand up and...
Posted Nov 2nd, 2016
Maceo Parker Sends Love
From The Santa Barbara Independent Maceo Parker Sends Love By: Charles Donelan The first song Maceo Parker recorded with James Brown was the immortal classic ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,’ and it could have been called ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Band’ when you look back and listen to the impact that Parker had on Brown’s music. Now, some...
Posted Oct 20th, 2016
Sax great Maceo Parker appears at Conn College
From The Day Sax great Maceo Parker appears at Conn College By: Rick Koster …as one of the premiere sax players in modern times, Parker’s sinewy tone and relentless groove for years fueled James Brown’s band (in the ’60s) and Parliament/Funkadelic (the ’70s). But that’s hardly the extent of his bio. Parker has played and/or recorded with Prince, De La...
Posted Oct 14th, 2016
Maceo Parker brings love to his music
From Hollywood Soapbox INTERVIEW: Maceo Parker brings love to his music By: John Soltes Maceo Parker is a performer who brings loves to each and every one of his concerts. The famed musician who got his start with James Brown, is currently on a tour that will bring him to the Northeast in the coming days. Parker, who recently spoke...
Posted Oct 6th, 2016
Funk legend Maceo Parker takes center stage
From The Richmond Times-Dispatch By: Markus Schmidt You always knew it was time to get down when James Brown lowered his mic and shouted out his now legendary command, ‘Maceo, I want you to blow.’ For saxophonist Maceo Parker it was the cue to step up ‘” and boy, did he blow, with his trademark fierce, biting attack on the...
Posted Oct 4th, 2016
Maceo Parker Talks His ‘Dream Come True’
From Billboard Maceo Parker Talks His ‘Dream Come True’: Paying Tribute to Idol Ray Charles By: Gail Mitchell Maceo Parker has funked it up with the best: James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic and Prince. But the legendary sax man is now fulfilling what he calls ‘a dream come true’: performing with the Ray Charles Orchestra and the Raelettes. The musical match-up takes...
Posted Sep 17th, 2016
Maceo Parker’s Ultimate Tribute to Ray Charles
From Words & Music The Ultimate Tribute to Ray Charles at the Hollywood Bowl By: Jenny Peters and Andy Gordon It has been 12 years since musical genius Ray Charles went to the great beyond at age 73, but his music is certainly living on, especially if you were lucky enough to be at the Hollywood Bowl in Southern California...
Posted Aug 29th, 2016
Maceo Parker “was by far the funkiest of the day”
From Oregon Music News Day two highlights: 2016 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival By: Scott Cunningham My personal highlight of the day was Maceo Parker. His set was by far the funkiest of the day, not surprising given his years of playing with James Brown and George Clinton. Parker was in fine form and clearly enjoying himself. Brown was famous for...
Posted Jul 6th, 2016
Maceo Parker Brings The Funk
From Houston Press Maceo Parker Brings The Funk To Houston’s Juneteenth Celebration By: William Michael Smith With long stints in James Brown’s band as well as George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic, Maceo Parker, who leads an all-star band headlining Sunday’s Juneteenth celebration at Miller Outdoor Theatre, is one of the most storied and respected saxophonists in the country. After thousands of gigs...
Posted Jun 17th, 2016
Maceo Parker Interview on WKZE
Sax legend Maceo Parker chats with the folks at WKZE 98.1 FM — listen below!
Posted Jun 9th, 2016
Saxophone great Maceo Parker still calls Kinston home
From The News & Observer By David Menconi Saxophone great Maceo Parker still calls Kinston home KINSTON Gold records line the walls in the office of Maceo Parker’s Kinston homestead, commemorating some of the hits the iconic saxophonist has played on over the past half-century. But Parker’s most eye-catching artifacts are the pictures of him with various members of the...
Posted May 21st, 2016
Maceo Parker says love is his thing
From Lancaster Online Maceo Parker says love is his thing By: Jenelle Janci Parker says he doesn’t take his access to a microphone and a crowd lightly, and reflected on what he thought would be important to say during his time in the spotlight. He decided on a simple, but heartfelt message: ‘We love you.’ It’s his mantra, and he...
Posted Feb 25th, 2016
Maceo Parker: 50 Years of Funk
From Montgomery County Living 50 Years of Funk By: Jack Firneno Maceo Parker’s played with the best ‘” and best-dressed ‘” of them. He’s the sax player James Brown was talking to when he first yelled ‘Blow, Maceo!’ in 1965 on the song ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.’ It was a call was later heard on dozens of other...
Posted Jan 4th, 2016
Maceo Parker on BBC Radio
From BBC Radio 6 Maceo Parker on the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show Craig’s guest tonight is synonymous with funky music and is the go to saxophonist is the business, it’s Maceo Parker. Maceo has played with each and every leader of funk, his start with James Brown, he then jumped aboard the Mothership with George Clinton; and then...
Posted Oct 19th, 2015
Maceo Parker Among Recipients to Receive State Heritage Award
From Kinston.com Maceo Parker among recipients to receive state Heritage Award By: Margaret Fisher Kinston’s world-renowned vocalist and musician, Maceo Parker, is one of eight recipients for five 2016 North Carolina Heritage Awards. Parker is being recognized for his international contribution to funk, jazz and rhythm and blues music at a public ceremony on May 25 in Raleigh with a...
Posted Oct 13th, 2015
Cast your vote! The J.B.‘s nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Click here to cast your vote for James Brown’s incomparable backing band, The J.B.‘s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Including IMN’s own Maceo Parker, The J.B.‘s are responsible for some of the most recognizable and widely sampled music ever. From the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Website: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, there are seven acknowledged wonders...
Posted Oct 8th, 2015
Maceo Parker Receives NC Heritage Award
From the office of Governor Pat McCrory Governor McCrory Announces Eight North Carolinians to Receive Prestigious Heritage Award Governor Pat McCrory announced today that eight North Carolina artists will receive the North Carolina Heritage Award for their outstanding contributions to our state’s cultural heritage. The 2016 North Carolina Heritage Award recipients are Maceo Parker, internationally-recognized funk, jazz and rhythm and...
Posted Sep 14th, 2015
Maceo Parker Memorabilia at NC Museum of History
James Brown always seemed like the ultimate man who invented himself. Yet even an artist as sui generis as Soul Brother No. 1 needed help to create the musical revolution that Brown unleashed in the 1960s. Some of Brown’s most important musical support came from Eastern North Carolina, which is the essence of ‘Hey America!: Eastern North Carolina and the...
Posted Jun 22nd, 2015
Maceo Parker brings that funky stuff
From The Philadelphia Inquirer Maceo Parker brings that funky stuff By: Shaun Brady Looking out at the packed audience at the Merriam Theater on Saturday, Maceo Parker wanted to make one thing clear: “We don’t do jazz.” Not that the multigenerational crowd was likely to be laboring under any such delusion. The 71-year-old sax legend helped lay the foundations of...
Posted Jan 19th, 2015
How Maceo became James Brown’s right-hand man
Madonna. Prince. Jimi. They’re all pop artists who don’t need a surname to identify them. Thanks to James Brown, alto saxophonist Maceo Parker fits in that category. Mr. Parker, who played with the Godfather of Soul on and off for 40 years, comes to the Byham Theater Friday to do the same thing he’s been doing all that time. To...
Posted Jan 13th, 2015
Maceo Parker’s big-band funk at Merriam
Maceo Parker shares how he developed his iconic funk style — catch him on tour now! Maceo Parker’s big-band funk at Merriam
Posted Jan 13th, 2015
Sax legend Maceo Parker thankful for a life of funk
From The Calgary Herald Sax legend Maceo Parker thankful for a life of funk that’s led him from James Brown to Prince By: Mike Bell It’s a little late in the coming, but it would be simply wrong not to thank Maceo Parker. He was, after all, present and partially responsible for one of the single best evenings and events...
Posted Oct 15th, 2014
One-on-one with Maceo Parker
From The Indianapolis Recorder One-on-one with Maceo Parker By: Victoria Davis It was his unforgettable solos for legendary entertainer James Brown in 1960s’ that helped Maceo Parker steal the spotlight and catapult a solo career as a funk and soul jazz saxophonist. As a part of the Indy Jazz Fest, Parker will be celebrating music as he performs at the...
Posted Sep 12th, 2014
Maceo Parker leads lively Saturday: Waterfront Blues Festival 2014
From The Oregonian Maceo Parker leads lively Saturday: Waterfront Blues Festival 2014 By: David Greenwald There are resumes and then there’s Maceo Parker, whose decades-long career includes multiple stints with James Brown and time on the road with Parliament Funkadelic and Prince. It’s no surprise why he’s been in demand. Headlining the Miller Stage at the Waterfront Blues Festival on...
Posted Jul 6th, 2014
Maceo Parker: A Great Among Greats
From The Vancouver Sun Maceo Parker: A Great Among Greats By: Francois Marchand Ask Maceo Parker to describe some of the acts he has had the privilege to blow his sax for and the answer is usually pretty much the same. James Brown? “A genius. A true innovator.” George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic? “Innovator.” Prince? “Same thing.” Ray Charles? “Almost like...
Posted Jun 25th, 2014
Maceo Parker: a Performance to Remember
From The Sun Break Live Show Review: Maceo Parker at Jazz Alley By: Royal Stuart If you live in Seattle, I’d like to apologize up front for the feelings of despair and depression that you will surely feel at the end of this article. You see, you missed legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker performing with his exceedingly stellar band at Jazz...
Posted Jun 23rd, 2014
Maceo Parker and Fredericks Brown “Discover Jazz”
From The Burlington Free Press Genre-hopping from Maceo Parker to Warren Wolf to Interpol By: Brent Hallenbeck …My next taste of music didn’t come until I got down to Waterfront Park at about 6:30 p.m., where on a cool, cloudy night I found lots of people getting down to Fredericks Brown. They’re a soulful group led by big-voiced singer Deva...
Posted Jun 6th, 2014
Saxophonist Maceo Parker brings a funk legacy to Tokyo, Osaka on Japan visit
BY C.B. Liddelll SPECIAL TO THE JAPAN TIMES Maceo Parker will be carrying a heavy load of history on his shoulders when he visits Japan for a string of gigs this month, but you wouldn’t know it from his carefree attitude. The 71-year-old musician is best known for his seminal sax work with James Brown’s legendary funk lineups of the...
Posted Apr 1st, 2014
Maceo Parker at the Art of Cool Festival
From The Huffington Post Why the “Art of Cool” Is the Best Festival in 2014 You Might Sleep On, Until Now – Part 1: The Lineup By: Wyatt Closs In late April, its going down. That is, an eclectic mix of Jazz, Neo-Soul, jazzy Hip-Hop and Retro Funk for two days. Purely that. Straight, no chaser, as North Carolina’s Theolonius...
Posted Mar 20th, 2014
Wave Your Hands in the Air for Maceo Parker
From NY Daily News Wave your hands in the air for Maceo Parker one more time at the Blue Note By: Wayne Lockwood At some point on Sunday night, Maceo Parker is going to tell you he loves you. He’s going to say it to you, he’s going to sing it to you, and he’s going to play it to...
Posted Feb 2nd, 2014
Funk Maestro Maceo Parker Wants to Show You the Love
From Wolf Trap A Wolf Trap Interview: Funk Maestro Maceo Parker Wants to Show You the Love By: Marisa Beahm Klein From his early days onstage with James Brown to his collaborations with artists such as George Clinton and Prince, saxophonist Maceo Parker has made his name synonymous with funk. Beyond being a legendary sideman, he’s also a proud band...
Posted Jan 27th, 2014
Maceo Parker on VH1’s Rock Docs
From The Wall Street Journal VH1’s Emmy Award-Winning “Rock Docs” Franchise Announces New Programming Slate For 2014 VH1’s Emmy Award-winning “Rock Docs” franchise returns with a brand new slate of original feature-length documentaries examining the intersection of music and culture. The new documentaries will premiere on VH1 in early 2014 and continue throughout the year. Upcoming VH1 Rock Docs include...
Posted Jan 17th, 2014
Maceo Parker Chats About His New Book
The audiobook of Maceo Parker’s 98% Funky Stuff: My Life in Music released today. Watch a clip of the man himself discussing the book and his fascinating life below: To buy the book, click below. But hurry up, Amazon only has 1 copy left!
Posted Dec 6th, 2013
Maceo Parker Opens for The Black Crowes
From AM New York The Black Crowes and their impressive opening acts By: Hal Bienstock The Black Crowes have always had respect for their elders. Over the years, the band, featuring Chris Robinson, left, has toured with many of its influences including Tom Petty, the Who and members of Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead. For its four-night stand at...
Posted Oct 23rd, 2013
Maceo Parker’s Brilliant Life and Times
From The Kinston Free Press Kinston’s Maceo Parker publishes book on his brilliant life and times By: Margaret Fisher ‘The funky Parker brothers’ was the name Maceo and Melvin Parker were dubbed while studying at N.C. Agricultural & Technical College after the two put on an improvisational music jam at a talent show. Their reputation earned them the opportunity to...
Posted Oct 8th, 2013
98% Funky Saxophonist Maceo Parker
From The Victoria Times Columnist 98% funky saxophonist Maceo still blowing his horn By: Adrian Chamberlain Maceo Parker was just out of college when his brother smooth-talked their way into James Brown’s band. The funk/soul saxophonist ‘” who played with Brown in the 1960s and ’70s ‘” soon became a glittering star in the James Brown universe. Typically, Brown would...
Posted Aug 28th, 2013
INTERVIEW: Maceo Parker Makes it Funky
from Canberra Times Make it Funky By John Shand Not one to argue, Maceo Parker lets his sax do the talking. Maceo Parker loves westerns. Watching John Wayne or Clint Eastwood spray bullets around his laptop is his favourite escape from the bump and grind of leading one of the world’s funkiest bands. Not that Parker, 69, doesn’t still love...
Posted Apr 12th, 2012
INTERVIEW: Maceo Parker in Melbourne
from ABC Melbourne Having just returned from playing the Byron Bay Blues Festival, Maceo Parker called by the studios yesterday to talk about his stellar career with the host of 774 Afternoons, George McEncroe. American saxophone player Maceo Parker is a music legend. Born in 1943, the man has played and collaborated with the likes of James Brown, George Clinton,...
Posted Apr 12th, 2012
Maceo Parker to Perform at Grammy Awards
Saxophone colossus Maceo Parker has been invited to perform at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Parker joins fellow invitees The Beach Boys, Foster The People, Maroon 5, The Civil Wars and Diana Krall. The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and...
Posted Feb 8th, 2012
INTERVIEW: Maceo Parker on Hawaii Public Radio
from Hawaii Public Radio Maceo Parker is back in the islands. The legendary sax player was a crucial member of the JB’s, backing funk founder James Brown, as well as serving under George Clinton in Parliament and Funkadelic. He called HPR’s Dave Lawrence… Maceo Parker performs at the Kahilu Theater on the Big Island Friday and the MACC on Maui...
Posted Jan 26th, 2012
Maceo Parker: Keepin’ Things Funky
from The Maui News Maceo Parker: Keepin’ Things Funky By Jon Woodhouse Sax legend Maceo Parker likes to clear up any misperceptions when he performs in concert. Don’t expect a jazz concert, he informs folks, because they’re about to experience some serious funk. “Sometimes people are confused when they see the instrument, and a lot of times we’re invited to...
Posted Jan 12th, 2012
Maceo Parker Brings His Own Brand of Cool
from Metro Active Maceo Parker Brings His Own Brand of Cool by Steve Palopoli Maceo Parker has played with some of the most iconic and eccentric personalities in music history. As James Brown’s sax man, he helped write the rules of modern R&B. As the musical director of George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic, he led a sonic revolution in the ’70s. As...
Posted Jan 10th, 2012
Maceo Parker Delivers His Own Funk
Maceo Parker steps away from the legends, delivers his own funk by Rich Freedman He’s played with James Brown. With Prince. And George Clinton. Opened for Ray Charles. Legends, sure. But Maceo Parker isn’t about to change for anyone. He’s not stubborn. He just knows his talent. And when it comes to playing, his website perhaps says it best: Parker’s...
Posted Jan 8th, 2012
REVIEW: Maceo Parker and Prince at Metro Centre
from The Chronicle Herald By Stephen Cooke Prince Delivers Stunning Performance Power of purple one packs Metro Centre Sad to say, concerts at the Halifax Metro Centre just won’t look or feel the same after witnessing a devastating performance by Prince on Wednesday night. Shows that are packed to the rafters are few and far between these days, but the...
Posted Dec 1st, 2011
Maceo Parker Joins Prince’s Canadian Tour
Prince has kicked-off an 11-day cross-country concert tour dubbed Welcome 2 Canada. Following on the heels of his successful Welcome 2 America run, the tour began on Friday night with the first of two shows at the Air Canada Centre. The three hour performance featured an impressive six encores. Prince has invited saxophone titan Maceo Parker to join him onstage...
Posted Nov 28th, 2011
REVIEW: Maceo Parker Keeps Things Warm at The Montreal Jazz Festival
from Jazz Times The Montreal Jazz Festival: Jazz All Year Round SFJAZZ Collective, Ari Hoenig and Maceo Parker keep things warm up north By Sharonne Cohen Maceo Parker: Funk All the Way ‘Is this a jazz festival?’ asked Maceo Parker as he greeted a hyped crowd at the jam-packed L’Astral. ‘Two percent!’ yelled back an audience member. ‘Well, we’re gonna...
Posted Nov 1st, 2011
Maceo Parker Inducted to North Carolina Music Hall of Fame
from North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Maceo Parker was the saxophonist in the groups that laid down the foundation of funk, rap and hip hop. He attended college in North Carolina but graduated from the University of James Brown. When he was on James Brown’s funky soul funk train James could be heard saying ‘Maceo, I want you to...
Posted Oct 13th, 2011
REVIEW: Maceo Parker at College of St. Rose’s
from Nippertown.com LIVE: Maceo Parker @ the College of St. Rose’s Massry Center, 9/23/11 Maceo Parker’s appearance at Massry Center started 15 minutes late. I’d ascribed that to a serious amount of walk-up action at the box office, and that did happen. The real reason, though, was trumpeter Lee Hogans and backup vocalist/Maceo’s son Corey Parker were driving to the...
Posted Sep 30th, 2011
The Foundations of Funk: Maceo Parker and Christian McBride, May 22 at Orchestra Hall
From Jazz Police The Foundations of Funk: Maceo Parker and Christian McBride, May 22 at Orchestra Hall By Andrea Canter It’s a night billed as ‘funktastic!’ On May 22 (7:30 pm) at Minnesota Orchestra Hall, the ‘Funk Titan’ saxophonist Maceo Parker shares the stage with jazz bass virtuoso Christian McBride. Each brings along an ensemble of like-minded musicians for a...
Posted May 19th, 2011
REVIEW: Maceo Parker
from Culture By The Coast Review: Maceo Parker by Asher As I approached Campbell Hall, I knew that I was in for a treat. Clusters of excited fans gathered at the steps to the lecture hall, clasping their tickets and engaging in animated chatter about the upcoming performance. Settling into my seat, I soon realized that I was surrounded by...
Posted Apr 20th, 2011
REVIEW: Maceo Parker at Campbell Hall
from JamBase.com REVIEW: Maceo Parker 04.17.11 :Campbell Hall, UCSB : Santa Barbara, CA by L. Paul Mann Maceo Parker made it clear early on in his set at UCSB on a sleepy Sunday night that he plays funk music not jazz. In witty banter with the audience, he jokingly said, ‘I love jazz, especially when I am reading a book...
Posted Apr 19th, 2011
Maceo Parker Delivers Tale of Bicoastal Funk
from Honest Tune Maceo Parker delivers tale of bicoastal funk to two cities By Barry Rosenberg and Jenna Stecker On a recent night in St. Charles, Illinois, Maceo Parker’s two sets felt like a real family affair, with the members of the band taking the stage one by one. It was a glorious gig, with the band receiving an enormous...
Posted Mar 2nd, 2011
Maceo Parker Revered as Funk Pioneer
from The Province Who was James Brown’s favorite saxophonist? Maceo Parker. That’s Parker’s big, fat sax sound on such stone-cold ’60s classics as ‘I Feel Good’ (tenor), ‘Cold Sweat’ (tenor) and ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’ (tenor and baritone). Parker performs in Vancouver Friday night with his nine-piece band. Fans revere the saxophonist as a funk pioneer. In the...
Posted Feb 23rd, 2011
Maceo Parker Joins the IMN Roster
IMN is pleased to announce the addition of renowned saxophonists Maceo Parker to our roster. Everyone knows by now that Maceo Parker has played with each and every leader of funk, his start with James Brown, which he describes as ‘ like being at University ‘; jumping aboard the Mothership with George Clinton; stretching out with Bootsy’s Rubber Band. He’s...
Posted Jul 14th, 2009
Maceo Parker, who joined James Brown’s band in 1964 and became one of its great anchors, is a lancing, quick-phrasing alto saxophone blazer, and his band performs a fizzy mixture of hard-driving funk and swing. It’s party music from start to finish.
The New York Times
Parker and company sparked the crowd into constant motion, making even the most rhythmically inept wallflower wiggle and bob like the Godfather of Soul himself.
Chicago Tribune
He’s no bebopper, reborn or otherwise. His roots are the church and the blues… his sound is joyful, cutting ribbon of light and heat burnished by grit and soul.
DownBeat Magazine
The audience singing and swaying like trees in a hurricane: Maceo is in the House – blowing a tempest.
The Seattle Times
Maceo Parker is a funk titan. His body of work is as important to the genre as those belonging to James Brown, George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, all of whom have collaborated with Parker. On a broader level, Parker must be regarded as simply one of the all-time great saxophonists. He stretched the boundaries of music, fashioned a new style of playing and, most importantly, made some truly great music.
San Jose Mercury News
Hurricane Maceo blew through, delivering a multihour non-stop barrage for an audience that danced itself into a frenzy before the second song was over.
Austin American Statesman