With Hit Me, Fred, sensational sideman Fred Wesley Jr. moves front
and center to tell his life story. A legendary funk, soul, and jazz
musician, Wesley is best known for his work in the late sixties and
early seventies with James Brown and as the leader of Brown's band,
Fred Wesley and the JB's. Having been the band's music director,
arranger, trombone player, and frequent composer, Wesley is one of
the original architects of funk music. He describes what it was
like working for the Godfather of Soul, revealing the struggle and
sometimes stringent discipline behind Brown's tight, raucous tunes.
After leaving Brown and the JB's, Wesley arranged the horn sections
for Parliament, Funkadelic, and Bootsy's Rubber Band, and led Fred
Wesley and the Horny Horns. Adding his signature horn arrangements
to the P-Funk mix, Wesley made funk music even funkier. Wesley's
distinctive sound reverberates through rap and hip-hop music today.
In Hit Me, Fred, he recalls the many musicians whose influence he
absorbed, beginning with his grandmother and father-both music
teachers-and including mentors in his southern Alabama hometown and
members of the Army band. In addition to the skills he developed
working with James Brown, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and the
many talented musicians in their milieu, Wesley describes the
evolution of his trombone playing through stints with the Ike and
Tina Turner Revue, Hank Ballard, and Count Basie's band. He also
recounts his education in the music business, particularly through
his work in Los Angeles recording sessions. Wesley is a virtuoso
storyteller, whether he's describing the electric rush of
performances when the whole band is in the groove, the difficulties
of trying to make a living as a rhythm and blues musician, or the
frustrations often felt by sidemen. Hit Me, Fred is Wesley's story
of music-making in all its grit and glory.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
