Maceo Parker stands among the legends of funk, forging the first half of his stellar career as a sideman for the genre’s forefathers James Brown and George Clinton. From being an essential voice in Brown’s horn section to helping steer George Clinton and Parliament’s Mothership Connection to platinum status, his soulful saxophone playing and vocals are firmly rooted in funk music history.
As a soloist and bandleader for the last two decades, he has created his own musical juggernaut, highlighted by the smashing success of the live record Life on Planet Groove. In recent years Maceo has brought his seminal sound to collaborations with Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, James Taylor, Dave Matthews Band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Prince. In 2012, he received the Les Victoires du Jazz in Paris: a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to music, as well as an Icon Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival.
Maceo Parker plays the Shalin Liu Performance Center on Thursday, August 3. Showtime is 8 PM