Welcoming 2014 in Washington, DC

It's back to work for Fred on Jan. 2, 2014, when he reunites in Washington, DC, at the historic Howard Theatre with iconic guitarist Leo Nocentelli's Icons of Funk project, which also features iconic P-Funk co-creator Bernie Worrell. Jan. 3 will find the same unit in NYC at BB King's.

Happy New Year wishes with a big THANK YOU to all of Fred's fans and friends! Watch the calendar for more fun and funk to come.

Featured on a website and a wall

When Fred performed at Pop Montreal in September, the website "The Sound It Resounds" asked him what it has asked numerous other musicians: to talk about a recording that was particularly inspirational to him. Click here for video of his musings on the 1956 album "J is for Jazz," by J.J. Johnson.

In other news, Fred's image is featured prominently in a new mural by graffiti street artitsts AL Sticking and SALAMECH outside Le Jam, a club and school in Montpellier, France. Fred posed for photos for the mural when the New JBs played there last April. The New JBs' French agent Jean-Herve Michel of Nueva Onda posed for the photo below while the mural was still being completed. Thanks, Jean-Herve!

Jean-Herve Michel with the new mural at Le Jam. (Photo by Marie Brissett)

In Bologna; almost home

Fred is in Bologna, Italy, where he'll reunite tonight at the Bravo Caffe with organist Leonardo Corradi and drummer Tony Match for their trio tribute to the timeless groove of Jimmy Smith. (Many thanks to El Transistor for capturing the trio in Granada, Spain.) They'll head to France tomorrow for a show in Clermont-Ferrand that marks the last date for Fred in a marathon seven-weeks on the road that began in New York City in early October.

He had a few days rest in Paris after finishing a fun 10-days Sunday with his talented musical compadres in the klezmer-funk-hip hop party Abraham Incorporated: David Krakauer, Socalled, C-Rayz Walz, Michael Sarin, Sheryl Bailey, Allen Watsky, Nicki Parrott, Freddie Hendrix and Phillip Whack.

In Berlin, he had a chance to see The Illusionists, and to visit with the show's musical director Dustin Moore and Kenn Michael, the talented son of his longtime friend Lola Love. He also crossed paths  there with musical friends including guitarist John Scofield and drummer Jack DeJohnnette.

Enjoy these photos.

Abe Inc interview at Blues-sur-Seine

Fred and John Scofield

Fred, Jack Dejohnnette, Nicki Parrot and David Krakauer

Dustin Moore, Fred and Kenn Michael

Music meeting at Jazz Fest Sarajevo

Jazzing in Sarajevo; supporting KBQ

This weekend marked the beginning of a fall tour with Abraham Incorporated, which started at the Berlin Jazz Fest and continues tomorrow at Jazz Fest Sarajevo. It also marked the beginning of a crowdfunding campaign in which two special pieces of his paraphernalia are up for grabs.

Fred has donated two autographed platinum albums albums from his P-Funk years to support the proprietors of KBQ, who happen to be his son-in-law and two of his daughters. After garnering countless hungry fans at its first location and through its catering operations, KBQ has begun renovations on its new location in Lanham, Maryland. Click here to learn more and to support the best barbecue in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area!

Between tours in Berlin

Fred is resting in Berlin after finishing a seven-city tour with his band The New JBs and before beginning the next part of his fall European adventure -- a five-city tour with Abraham Incorporated that begins Saturday at JazzFest Berlin.

The New JBs tour ended with a hot show in Brno, Czech Republic, as part of the Moravia Music Fest. Many thanks to all who made the week such a fun and funky good time. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!  

The New JBs onstage in Brno, Czech Republic 

Festival logistician Lucie Karaflatova interviewing Fred after the show

Lucie and Fred

Berlin soundcheck

Trumpeter Gary Winters and pianist Barney McAll wait for the train in Innsbruck

Soundchecking in Zurich (thanks, Angelo!)

Tea time in Milano

With old friends Patrik Rosenberg and Michael Kirsch in Zurich

With old friend Juan Rozoff in Paris

Onstage at the Hoochie Coochie in Newcastle

Live streaming from the Blue Note Milan!

Tonight, Funky Fred fans worldwide can get a taste of what Paris fans got last night. Part of the New JBs show at the Blue Note Milan will be live streamed by Showgo.tv. Click here to access a virtual bit of the experience. Enjoy!

Paris' New Morning, Monday, Oct. 21, 2013

Set to start in Newcastle and do a Zurich masterclass!

Fred and his New JBs will funk up the Hoochie Coochie tonight at the start of their quick seven-city tour of Europe, which now includes a masterclass and jam Sunday afternoon in Zurich.

Many thanks to Carine Zuber of Moods, for organizing the opportunity for musicians and music students of all levels to learn from and play with Funky Fred.  Also thanks to Mariela Scarfo for setting the precedent with the trombone workshop she pulled together in Buenos Aires.

Here is the updated itinerary:

Oct. 18 -- Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle, UK

Oct. 19 -- Moods, Zurich

Oct. 20 -- Funk Workshop and Jam (register by emailing Carine.Zuber@moods.ch

Oct. 21 -- New Morning, Paris

Oct. 22 -- The Blue Note, Milan

Oct. 23 -- Treibhaus, Innsbruck, Austria

Oct. 25 -- Quasimodo, Berlin

Oct. 26 -- Metro Music Bar, Brno, Czech Republic

One of Sunday's participants will be drummer and fan Fabio Vezzio, who shared these photos from Poretta, Italy, in 2010, Basel, Switzerland, last year, and Estavayer-le-Lac last summer. Thanks, Fabio!

Fred and Fabio in Poretta

Fred, Fabio, Bruce in Basel

Fred and Susanne Alt in Estavayer-le-Lac 

Susanne, Fred and Fabio in Estavayer-le-Lac

Back with his New JBs in Europe!

After much musical fun in Europe over the last two weeks, tomorrow Fred rejoins the tightest band in all lands: Fred Wesley and the New JBs. Get tickets now for these shows:

Oct. 18 -- Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle, UK

Oct. 19 -- Moods, Zurich

Oct. 21 -- New Morning, Paris

Oct. 22 -- The Blue Note, Milan

Oct. 23 -- Treibhaus, Innsbruck, Austria

Oct. 25 -- Quasimodo, Berlin

Oct. 26 -- Metro Music Bar, Brno, Czech Republic

The run is part of seven weeks in Europe, including dates with the ongoing Celebration of Jimmy Smith with organ phenom Leonardo Corradi and drummer Tony Match, a show celebrating Lionel Hampton, and a week next month with Abraham Incorporated.

Enjoy the pictures below, and click here for more from Le Chat Vert in Rouen, France, by sax-playing photographer Laurent Meyer. (Thanks, Laurent!)

Oct. 5, Vicenza, Italy

Fred solos on the Lionel Hampton Tribute,  to the admiring faces (diagonally l-r) of Jason Marsalis out front on vibes, Axel Kuhn on saxophone and Claus Reichstaller on trumpet) 

Kassel, Germany

Fred with the "Jazz Taxi" of Markus Knierim's Theaterstubchen club in Kassel

Rouen, France

Leo, Fred and Tony (Photo by Laurent Meyer)

Granada, Spain

Arriving at the Hotel Condor in Granda, Spain

Interview with Elie Lion at the Boogaclub, Granada

Reggio Calabria, Italy

Leo, Fred and Tony take a bow at La Sosta (Photo by Ciko Cicciosca)

Caught by star shooters at BB King's NYC!

Fred said farewell to the United States for awhile with a hit at BB King's New York City with his New JBs and legendary trumpeter Tom Browne. His friends and star photographers Dino Perrucci, Allison Murphy and Greg Aiello were on hand and caught these great shots. Thanks Dino, Allison and Greg! Enjoy. 

Fred with longtime friend, trumpeter Ron Tooley.

Heading to BB King's NYC!

Having finished a busy September that featured a Pittsburgh gig with Tom Browne and Pamela Williams, Fred and his band the New JBs will unite with Tom again for a special night at BB King's tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013.

It will be a rare chance for U.S. fans to see Fred in his favorite setting -- in the tight unit with which he's been touring Europe and other continents for more than 20 years. Click here for tickets.

The last weekend in September saw Fred make a special guest appearance with his P-Funk compadre Bernie Worrell and the Bernie Worrell Orchestra at the Pop Montreal Festival. He also had a chance to visit with Socalled, one of his partners in Abraham Incorporated, which will tour Europe in November.

Earlier in the month, Fred spent five days playing in Grayton Beach, FL, with his James Brown compadre John "Jabo" Starks, who has a regular gig at the Red Bar. 

Enjoy these photos.

Montreal

Fred and Bernie 

Fred and Socalled

Fred onstage with BWO 

Fred being interviewed for The Sound It Resounds 

Montreal funk symposium

Florida

Red Bar owner Oli with Fred and Jabo

Fred with Billy Dee Williams' son Corey

Fred with Jimmy Gresham, brother of one of his early mentors Willie Gresham (see "Hit Me Fred")

Jabo, 90.7 DJ Harley and Fred

Fred with 90.7 DJ Robin