Maceo Parker: Funk Overload

Some musicians are stylists. Others, like Maceo Parker, are styles. And despite an ample bed of laurels, the venerable funk saxman not only keeps the heat going, but occasionally conjures a curveball or two. On Funk Overload (What Are Records,War 60032, 48:18), Parker adds his vocals to his familiar funk mix. His sweaty cords ooze a southern-style, vaguely Chuck Brown-ish charm. When he gets a shot at some high-grade stuff, he, along with his crack band, flat tears things up. Besides a romance-rap freighted version of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” Maceo and crew lay into some deadly grooves: Sly’s “Sing a Simple Song,” and Rufus’ classic “Tell Me Something Good,” and an organ-led version of another Gaye standard, “Inner City Blues.”

Originally Published December 1, 1998