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.
Maceo Parker - Soul Power '74
- Artist: Maceo Parker
- Album: James Brown’s Funky People Part 2 (1988)
- Track: Soul Power ’74
- Instrument: Alto Sax
Enjoy!
@SdartSax
