Fred set a prayerful tone for 2017 with his first gig of the year -- the annual Hymns & Spirituals concert by the Mark Sterbank Group. This year's show -- the 17th annual -- was held at East Cooper Baptist Church on Jan. 22 and featured Fred with Mark on saxophone, Charlton Singleton on trumpet, Herman Burney on bass, Quentin Baxter on drums and Demetrius Doctor on keys.
Next on the horizon is his appearance at Miami's North Beach Band Shell this coming Saturday night, with his band the New JBs including longtime friend Doug Carn substituting on keyboards. Roosevelt Collier and student musicians from Guitars Over Guns also will perform. Click here for tickets.
Finally, funk musicians and would-be funk musicians in or near Paris should register now for Fred's Funk Workshop on May 19-20, 2017. See details and video in the flyer below.
Association K'Dense organise Un stage de FUNK dirigé par Fred Wesley les 19 & 20 Mai 2017
Ce stage propose à des amateurs de tous niveaux et tous âges, jouant dans des fanfares et des groupes, de côtoyer et d’accompagner pendant deux jours le tromboniste américain Fred Wesley, collaborateurs de James Brown et spécialistes de funk. Les stagiaires, réunit en grand orchestre, vivront une aventure musicale dans un cadre professionnel et convivial. L’aboutissement de cette session se conclura par un concert avec Fred Wesley. Plus de 15h de stage; peuvent y participer une section rythmique (basse batterie, guitares et clavier), et chant. Faut-il encore présenter Fred Wesley, le plus funky des trombonistes ? celui qui a composé House Party, Pass The Peas et bien d'autres tubes.
The year 2016 ended on a fun note with the ATL Collective's annual James Brown Christmas Party. Legendary drummer Bernard Purdie was the other special guest of the evening, which featured great vocal and instrumental performances, and a special presentation to the late, great James Brown's youngest daughter, Yamma. Scroll down for photos.
Fred's first gig of 2017 will be Sunday, Jan. 22 with the Mark Sterbank Group at the 12th Annual Hymns & Spirituals Jazz Concert, presented by Charleston Southern University and happening this year at East Cooper Baptist Church, 361 Egypt Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.
In other news, check out two albums featuring Fred released in 2016: Pioneering Moroccan artist Ahmed Soultan's "Music Has No Boundaries" and Amsterdam-based saxophonist Susanne Alt's "Saxify."
Finally, our friends at Bambooka have t-shirts emblazoned with a pic of Fred rocking a pair of the specialty sunglasses. Click here to buy one. Proceeds from the T-shirts, like the glasses, support the organization's unique mission.
Yamma and Fred
Bernard Purdie, ATL Collective's Kevin Scott and Fred