Alto-saxist Maceo Parker has dug a niche that is hard to resist, mixing blues, jazz and vintage R&B with artists ranging from James Brown to Parliament as well as his own solo career. Here, he brings together a Crescent City team of Ivan Neville/key, Nikki Glaspie/dr, Tony Hall/b and adroitly selects some irresistible tunes that are either in the soul canon or now deserve to be.
You know an album’s going to be fun when the leader opens up with a “Yeow” before tearing into his chunky and funky original “Cross the Track” and some Afro Sheen is blasted on the James Brownish “MAcEO” while taking The Meters’ “Just Kissed My Baby” and adding a wacka wooka workout by Neville. His voice is wonderfully leathered, rasping thourhg the 70s synth of “Right Place, Wrong Time” and shouting defiance on the classic soul groover “Compared To What”. His alto is a slinky soul blue as he plays and sings on Prince’s “Other Side Of The Pillow” and he makes feelin’ good feel good as his alto floats over the humming organ on “Grazing In The Grass”. Strength to strength is displayed on this one. Soulful reads of soul classics.