Maceo Parker - Its All About Love (2018)

Maceo Parker's first studio album for twelve years is a celebration of the iconic saxophonist / vocalist's 75th birthday. Maceo is best known his work on some of greatest soul and funk LPs of the '60s and 70s, including those by James Brown, Bootsy's Rubber Band and Parliament and latterly Prince, plus his own solo albums which have increasingly encompassed jazz, as well as his signature funk and soul sound.

Maceo's most recent recordings have put paired him with WDR Big Band and the collaboration continues with a new studio album 'It's All About Love' with beautifully arranged by Michael Abene- all of which feature love in the title. "I feel like we can't say the word enough", he says speaking of the new project, "we all could use a little more love in the world, and so I wanted to just have album which encompasses that".

The selection is a broad range of songs from "Love The One You're With" to the funky "Put Your Lovin' in the Layaway". For this project Maceo recruited drummer Cora Coleman and bassist Carroll Dashiel who bring a solid groove to the music which, of course, also features soloists from the WDR Big Band.

The album is- as all Maceo's recordings are- a joyful experience well served as always by the arrangements of Michael Abene. It is a fitting album to celebrate Maceo's 75th birthday and the longevity and importance of his role in musical history.