Having steered the mothership and worked as a triggerman for the Godfather of Soul, storied sax man
Maceo Parker
now brings his own tight rhythm and
soul
sound to vinyl (er, plastic) in undeniable proof that he's still "got it." Combining his smoking horn with the backing of fellow legends such as trombonist
Fred Wesley
and new bloods such as son
Corey
(whose intermittent
raps
colorfully enhance the album's youthful vibrance),
Maceo
works through the familiar
funk
and
lines of his
Parliament
JB
days and adds new twists to such classics as
Marvin Gaye
's
"Let's Get It On"
"Inner City Blues,"
Stevie Wonder
"Tell Me Something Good,"
Sly Stone
"Sing a Simple Song,"
while offering a number of his own well-orchestrated and well-seasoned compositions.
"Youth of the World"
features
on a lead vocal reminiscent of
Kool Moe Dee
or
Kurtis Blow
, while
"Do You Love Me"
rises like
Tower of Power
before the sultry
Chicago
lines of closer
"Going in Circles."
Though
's original lyrical attempts may be a bit immature, his years of experience and hard work shine through with every brassy attack and smooth
note. ~ Matthew Robinson