FRED WESLEY
Decades after his work with James Brown and George Clinton established Fred Wesley as one of the architects of funk, Fred Wesley new project connects him to his jazz roots and to the future: GENERATIONS.
GENERATIONS is an expandable trio featuring 73-year-old Wesley on trombone, 24-year-old Italian prodigy Leonardo Corradi on the organ and 44-year-old French drummer Tony Match. Three musicians who initially came together to pay tribute to the soulful jazz of legendary organist Jimmy Smith, they clicked and continue grooving together.
Their show combines Wesley’s talents and experience working with artists from Count Basie and Ray Charles to Lenny Kravitz and D’Angelo, Corradi’s energetic reflection of Smith and other historic jazz giants, and Match’s jazz drumming colored by unique influences including African beats and electronic sounds.
FRED WESLEY
Born in Mobile Alabama, Fred Wesley began his professional career as a teenage trombonist with Ike and Tina Turner. He was music director, arranger, trombonist and a primary composer for James Brown from 1968-1975, then arranged and played for Parliament-Funkadelic and Bootsy’s Rubber Band.
He has played with and arranged for a wide variety of other artists including Ray Charles, Pancho Sanchez, New York Voices, Slide Hampton, Van Morrison, the SOS Band and Cameo, to name a few.
Scores of other artists including Janet Jackson and Nas have sampled his work. Since his stint with the Count Basie Orchestra, he has maintained a focus on jazz – playing, recording, writing and promoting it. His solo jazz recordings include “To Someone,” “Amalgamation,” “Comme Ci Comme Ca,” “Full Circle” and “Wuda Cuda Shuda.”
"We speak of love and happiness:
For me, happiness is Fred Wesley playing his horn."
James Brown
For booking please contact:
Maurizio Della Fortuna - Live Music Band Agency