Wednesday, October 30, 2013

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

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

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

Friday, October 18, 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. 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

Thursday, October 17, 2013

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. 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)

Friday, October 11, 2013

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.


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

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