Fred Wesley, the legend of funk live in Rome

Decades after his work with James Brown and George Clinton, Fred Wesley has established himself as one of the architects of funk, his new project creates a link three of his jazz roots and future generations. A trio with Wesley at age 73 is still a virtuoso trombone, the Italian organ prodigy Leonardo Corradi, the French drummer Tony Match. Three musicians who initially came together to pay tribute to the soul of the legendary jazz organist Jimmy Smith, continue to play together in the name of the groove. Their show combines the talent and experience of Wesley who has worked with artists such as Count Basie and Ray Charles, up to Lenny Kravitz and D’Angelo, with the touch of Corradi and rhythmic colored of Match that also makes use of African rhythms  and electronic sounds.

Wesley is recognized as the funk trombonist reference. Along with Maceo Parker and Pee Wee Ellis it was one of the key members of the horn section of groups of James Brown and also the musical director for James Brown’s Band. He has played many hit songs like “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” and “Mother Popcorn” and also as co-author of “Hot Pants“.

https://youtu.be/HYVseh3IPNc

His long career has allowed him to work, as well as Brown and Clinton, with the likes of Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Randy Crawford, Vanessa Williams, The SOS Band, Cameo, Van Morrison, Socalled and De La Soul and many other.
In 1975 he left the “JB’s” to work with George Clinton and his various projects (Parliament and Funkadelic), and also impacting on their own with a satellite group of these projects, called “The Horny Horns.”

In 1978 he joined the orchestra of Count Basie, thus expanding his artistic horizons to jazz. His first jazz album as a leader is To Someone in 1988, followed by New Friends (1990), Comme Ci Comme Ca (1991) and Swing and Be Funky and Amalgamation (live, 1994). In the early 90 Wesley returned to work with the JB Horns (with Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker). When Pee Wee Ellis left the group took the name of “The Maceo Parker Band”, and Wesley was part of the group until 1996 when he founded his own band, “The Fred Wesley Group“.

On the stage Fred Wesley (trombone), Leonardo Corradi (organ) and Tony Match (drums).

When:
Saturday, January 30
23 hours

Where:
Elegance Café
Via Vittorio Veneto 83/87 – Rome
Tel: +39 0642016745
www.elegancecafe.it

Costs:
Admission with minimum consumption of € 30 EURO

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Jimmy Rabbitte

Jimmy Rabbitte, the son of a fanatic of Elvis was born in Dublin in 1970. He graduated in sociology, she is always fond of music, he enjoys among small bands and journalistic collaborations. He lived in Rome for more than 15 years and not miss a concert in San Lorenzo in Testaccio , from Pigneto to Portonaccio Rome districts.