MACEO PARKER
Made By Maceo (What Are Records)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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If you're looking for the funk and you thunk it was only in the oldies bin, Maceo's got the chops, just the way you like 'em. Deep fried, bouncy, (fun)ky grooves aplenty jam this CD from former James Brown bandleader and Parliament first mate Maceo Parker, the sax man who could blow into a beer bottle and make it sound like authentic funk. It feels as good as good funk should feel, as it did in the 70s, but as has been the case in recent years, Parker's son, Corey, steps in here and there with hip hop performances that blend perfectly with dad's old school sensibilities and update the appeal. Hopefully this will bring some younger people to Maceo's audience, people who might never have given him a serious listen otherwise. "Those Girls" is the perfect example of old and new, father and son, bringing their sounds together and making magic. No sampling necessary here.

There probably aren't any songs here that will go down as "unforgettable" the way "Elephant Stepped On My Foot," from Maceo's 1998 Funk Overload album, did, but songs like that are rare. This album is truly fantastic as a solid start to finish funk groove, with only one very mellow break (the sweetly rendered "Moonlight In Vermont") to let you catch your breath. You know what I don't get? Everybody talks about all the elder statesmen of music who are still able to do the job at some level of their former abilities, and you never hear anyone mention Maceo Parker, who can wipe up the floor with any of them. The man's runnin' full speed ahead. You want a feel good funk album, one full of songs you haven't known the words to for 30 years? Here y'go.

© 2003 - DJ Johnson