Tag: funk

Hello 2016! For the my first post of the year, I wanted to dig down deep into my Maceo collection again. This is a track that I believe was recorded in 1974 by ‘Maceo and the Macks’, but you may find it on various compilation CDs (as I did) under the JB’s, James Brown,  or Maceo himself.

The solo itself is classic Maceo in many ways, but it also has an uncommon amount of high altissimo. I’m experimenting with different fingerings for the high G to find one that works best in these situations. The ‘short’ fingerings are not very stable for me, so I end up using the ‘long’ fingerings more often than not.

I’m also experimenting with alternate Bb fingerings. Again, the ‘long’ fingering works best for me, but is harder to use in fast passages, which makes me suspect that Maceo has a ‘short’ fingering that works well for him. The alternate ‘A’ fingerings work great for me, but I haven’t found the equivalent for Bb yet. Any suggestions?

• Artist: Maceo Parker
• Album: The JB’s: Funky Good Time: Anthology (1974)
• Track: Parrty Pts. 1 and 2
• Instrument: Alto Sax

Enjoy!

@SdartSax

I decided to reach down into the archive for a ‘deep track’ this week. So deep, you may have trouble finding the recording! An Amazon link to the CD (but no MP3 download) is above. You may have to look under either Maceo, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, the JB’s, JB Horns, etc. to find the CD. But it’s worth it! You may find it listed as “Pee Wee, Fred, and Maceo”.

Those post-James Brown recordings are super funky to me, and capture an important time period right before Maceo struck out on his own as the solo artist we know him to be today.

The transcription covers the entire track, but my video is only the alto solo.

• Artist: Maceo Parker
• Album: The JB Horns (1989)
• Track: Everywhere Is Out of Town
• Instrument: Alto Sax

Enjoy!
@SDartSax

Here’s the original studio version of the song I posted last week.

Again, for the sake of time, my video doesn’t include the melody, it starts with Maceo’s solo on page two, about 3:40s into the track.

• Artist: Maceo Parker
• Album: School’s In (2005)
• Track: Advanced Funk
• Instrument: Alto Sax

Enjoy!
@SDartSax

I’m going through my backlog of Maceo solos, and ‘A’ seemed like a fitting place to start. This is a live version with a full big band. I’ll post the studio version soon.

For the sake of time, my video doesn’t include the melody, it starts with Maceo’s solo on page two, about 4:40s into the track.

• Artist: Maceo Parker
• Album: Roots and Grooves (2008)
• Track: Advanced Funk
• Instrument: Alto Sax

Enjoy!
@SDartSax

What a blow! This is a long track with a lot of playing. It’s one of those transcriptions that’s not that hard to write down, but it’s really hard to duplicate the performance since it’s so raw and full of energy. The sax+drum solo builds so well. The chromatic walk up during the saxophone solo is especially tough to replicate with all of the inflections, but I did my best.

I love this track though. This is probably my favorite track from my favorite Maceo album. I especially love the a capella horn section ending. I’ve played this arrangements in bands before and it’s a ton of fun to do live.

I started this project as a way to force myself to practice more. One of the side benefits that I’ve found is that listening to recordings of yourself practicing is very enlightening! This is one of those DUH things that every teacher tells you, but you never really internalize until you try it.

Listening to this track makes me realize how much I need to work on my pitch! Some (but not all) of this is due to the fact that I make the recordings with headphones in so I can hear the soloist well. But they also block out my own sound making it harder to match pitch. I think I’ll experiment with just one earphone in to see how that works.

• Artist: Maceo Parker
• Album: Life on Planet Groove (2007)
• Track: Shake Everything You’ve Got
• Instrument: Alto Sax

Enjoy!

@SdartSax

I’ll admit, this post is a bit of filler…but it’s because I’ve got a really meaty post coming up next!

This track isn’t really a solo, it’s more solo fills and backgrounds around the vocals. But there’s still some cool stuff in it. The ending really shows the power of simple repetition. If you commit to it, it really works. Most players don’t have the discipline to play the same line more than once or twice. They feel that they have to get creative with it. And they end up overdoing it and distracting from what the rest of the band is laying down.

But for me the best part of this track comes around 0:30 seconds in (on my YouTube video). Maceo is in the middle of an 8-bar break, and he fills in with a single note. Again it shows the power of understatement and confidence.

It reminds me of a story of the artist Giotto, who demonstrated his mastery through simplicity and minimalism, rather than elaborate technique:

“…when the Pope sent a messenger to Giotto, asking him to send a drawing to demonstrate his skill, Giotto drew, in red paint, a circle so perfect that it seemed as though it was drawn using a compass and instructed the messenger to give that to the Pope.“

Maceo Parker - Youth of the World

• Artist: Maceo Parker
• Album: Funk Overload (1998)
• Track: Youth of the World
• Instrument: Alto Sax

Enjoy!

@SdartSax

The year was 1988. I stopped by the record store after school with my friends, like we often did. I didn’t have a specific idea of what I wanted to get. Somehow I stumbled upon a cassette tape of “James Brown’s Funky People”, and decided to pick it up. I’m not even sure why. As a white kid growing up in the affluent suburbs of Chicago, the only exposure I had to James Brown was in Rocky IV. It wasn’t until years later that I would understand the cultural and musical impact that he had. But my friend Jonny gave a nod of approval when he saw my choice and I bought it.

This was my first exposure to Maceo, and I knew right away that I had found something special. As much as I loved Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderley, they didn’t connect with me as musical mentors in the same way that Maceo did. I could relate to him somehow.

This was the first Maceo solo that I transcribed. It’s still one of my favorites. There’s so much rich material – classic Maceo. There are some really tricky passages in this solo, all these years later I still struggle with some of them. But it’s been a real treat dusting this one off and getting it back under my fingers again.

• Artist: Maceo Parker
• Album: James Brown’s Funky People Part 2 (1988)
• Track: Soul Power ’74
• Instrument: Alto Sax

Enjoy!

@SdartSax

This is a relatively easy track to play. It’s a great song to practice for tone and phrasing. The melody is so simple and strong, and Maceo delivers it with such authority! The solo is in the pocket right from the start – I just love the opening line. I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of the rap breakdown at the end, but I understand what Maceo’s trying to do by getting his material to appeal to a more modern audience.

• Artist: Maceo Parker
• Album: Funk Overload (1998)
• Track: Uptown Up
• Instrument: Alto Sax

Enjoy!

@SdartSax