22 October 2007 (gig)
30 October 2007
No-one plays saxophone with quite the same finesse as sharp-suited, timeless Maceo. His crisp, staccato sound cuts through air like a rapier through sweet candyfloss. The elderly gent of soul scribbles terrific verse with his key tapping and tooting.
These days Parker is part playing ode to other past masters of funk folklore. He, who played with George Clinton and the J.B.’s, is unreserved in his referencing Parliament and the dearly departed J. Brown.
But the aficionado has carved out an envious solo career himself, playing with All the King's Men and guesting with artists as diverse as Prince, Jane’s Addiction and De La Soul. Tonight, commensurate with his own success, he kept it high tempo, raw and rare like Sunday morning carvery.
Parker trips up only occasionally, for instance when lending his limited if guttural, gravely vocals to the odd tune. 'Funky’ is a tired donkey of an adjective in concert banter, and was used with cringing regularity tonight. But this is a trivial objection to hold against Parker. He is a musician, not a master of ceremonies.
Like a true gent, Parker affords the members of his band the space to shine in their own rights too. Dennis Rollins, representing the UK on trombone, gave a sterling performance and one deserved of his 2007 Ronnie Scott's Award.
Judging by the sweaty shivers and hairs standing upon the backs of audience members here, Parker will continue as the UK's favourite American purveyor of the woodwind for many a concert to come.
