February 3, 2008 Maceo's Coming to Town
On my radio show on WCOM, I feature the music of NC jazz musicians. One of those giants is Maceo Parker, from Kinston, NC, where he still lives today. He was a main man with James Brown, and is known as the King of Funk - the funky music man. He also worked with the Mothership with George Clinton, and then Bootsy's Rubber Band. He's toured with Prince. Maceo has had a highly successful solo career. I love his double CD, Roots & Groove. On the Roots CD, he works with a big band and pays tribute to the music and sound of Ray Charles.

He will be coming to Duke as part of the Duke Performances series, Soul Power - from Gospel to the Godfather. He will be in Durham on Feb. 29th in Page Auditorium on the Duke Campus. He will be sharing the bill with Booker T. Jones who will bring together the sounds of R&B and pop, as inspired by the music coming out of Memphis. This double header is a must hear.

Having just come from the Solomon Burke concert the night before where I, and over a 100 other appreciative female fans, went home with a spectacular red rose. It was a fabulous concert and definitely sat on the funky side. Between Solomon and the upcoming appearance of Maceo Parker, I decided to play jazz music on the funky side.

Playlist

• Nina Simone (b. Tryon, NC); Anthology CD; I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
• Solomon Burke; Don't Give Up on Me CD; title song
• Lou Donaldson; Blue's Walk CD; title song
• Neville Brothers; Treacherous CD; Cha Dooky-Do
• Gene Harris; Gene & the Three Sounds, Live at the IT Club CD; On Green Dolphin Street
• Solomon Burke; Don't GIve Up on Me CD; None of Us is Free
• Jimmy Smith; The Incredible/Hoochie Cooche Man CD; Got My Mojo Workin'
• Ray Charles & Natalie Cole; Genius Loves Company CD; Fever
• Professor Longhair; Rum & Coke CD; Gone So Long
• Sam Moore & Conway Twitty; Blues & Rhythm CD; Rainy Night in Georgia
• Professor Longhair; Rum & Coke CD; Every Day I Have the Blues
• James Taylor (b. Chapel Hill, NC); For Our Children CD; Getting to Know You
• Anita O'Day; Swings Cole Porter CD; D'Lovely
• Nnenna Freelon (lives Durham, NC); Heritage CD; Girl Blue
• Mary Lou WIlliams (finished life in Durham, NC); My Mama Pinned a Rose on Me CD; the Blues
• Anita O'Day; Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter CD; Get Out of Town
• Nina Simone; Love Songs CD; I Get Along Without You Very Well
• Eva Cassidy; The Other Side CD; Over the Rainbow
• Carmen McRae; Lover Man CD; I Cried For You
• Nina Simone; Love Songs CD; Just Like a Woman
• Frankie Alexander (lives Durham, NC); Mad About the Words CD; At Long Last Love
• Frank Sinatra; Classic Sinatra CD; I've Got You Under My Skin
• Billie Holiday; The Essential CD; Body & Soul
• Solomon Burke; Don't Give Up on Me CD; Only a Dream

Please join me every Sunday night from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. EST by either tuning in at 103 FM if you live in the Carrboro area. We have webstreaming thanks to ibiblio and so you can hear my show from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world. Go to www.communityradio.coop and click on the button in the upper right hand corner for web access.

My son, Will, continues to write about his teaching experiences on the westside of Chicago, where he works at Westside Alternative. His latest posting was Guidance, on how challenging it is for young people from families of little education to find their way through the maze of getting into college. See Will's photographs.