Note :
The following article was to introduce the 1999 European Summer Tour, the japan tour will
include CLYDE STUBBLEFIELD, JABO STARKS AND THE JBs REUNION BAND.
I would like to introduce to you my new band
that URS GUNTERT has named:
THE FRED WESLEY JAZZ / FUNK EXPLOSION
This band is built on the foundation of the old:
FRED WESLEY AMALGAMATION BAND
The rhythm section still features the BeBopAbility of Peter Madsen, piano,
Bruce Cox, drums, and Dwayne Dolphin on bass. All three have recently graduated,
with honors, from FUNK SCHOOL, all receiving their BMF ( Basic Music Funkamentals)
degrees.
To this fine rhythm section we have added, for historical purposes, the great guitarist,
Reggie Ward, an original member of the renowned Funk / R&B group, THE S.O.S. BAND and
holder of an honorary BMF degree. The interaction of all the Jazz and Funk styles
has created a sound and a rhythmic base so broad and so diverse, that all who hear
will be thoroughly amazed and entertained.
We have been forced to add two new horn players. Karl Denson has gone off to lead
his own band of FUNK SCHOOL renegades and Hugh Ragin has taken his PH.D. in advanced
funkology to educational meccas like Oberlin College in Ohio and the famed Berkley School
of Music in Boston. We miss them but we understand how one must spread funk
"all ore` all lands." Ever funking on, my brothers. Your positions
are always open for you to return.
Substituting for Karl is the able veteran, Mr. Ernie Fields Jr. Ernie bringsto us his vast experience and storied experiences with every type of music from
early swing with his fathers Big Band through the Texas flavored blues era with
Bobby Blue Bland, as his bandleader, through many years as session contractor during theglory years of the Hollywood Studio Musicians, to currently being featured in thetrendy jump bands of the nineties. This man has been everywhere and done,
just about, everything. We are blessed to have him on all of the saxes and
bagpipes. On selected shows we will be visited by the great Alfred (Pee Wee) Ellis
on tenor sax, who has actually been everywhere and has actually done everything.
Replacing Hugh on trumpet is Gary Winters. A mid-American from Cincinatti who
impressed me in a Bootsy Collins session where he played Funk, Jazz, and Latin flavored
licks with equal agility and power. His ability to adjust to styles is matched
only by his basic trumpet skills. He has range like Maynard, plays Be Bop like
Freddie and has the Latin facility of Victor Paz. Gary Winters is one of thethree best trumpet players I have ever worked with.
Just to keep everybody in our multifarious audiences satisfied and to keep me up to date
with what's happening in the music world and to really bring the FRED WESLEY JAZZ /
FUNK EXPLOSION to a FULL CIRCLE, I bring to you the HipHopAbility of my son, FRED VIBE
(Fred Wesley III). He made his recording debut on the FULL CIRCLE CD and has
performed with me every since. I'll try to keep him as long as I can but he is good
and now has his own recordings. I hear the young people and they have heard
and still hear me. It is important that all of the generations represented in
this band and in life generally, respect each other and feed off of each other and
together strive for a better, more peaceful world.
No band would be complete without that element of sugar, spice and everything
SASSY.We bring to you, our featured vocalist, the lovely, MISS LYN COLLINS. "Think
About It". You must remember "MOMMA FEELGOOD" She puts the
icing on the already flavor loaded cake.
Everything that FRED WESLEY is, has been and ever hopes to be is captured and expanded
upon with this no-holds-barred, free-wheeling, knowledgeable yet sensitive team of
musicians. We Bop you, Hip Hop you, Funk you and Swing you all in the name of having
a FUNKY GOOD TIME. We bring you strong music with strong beats to move your body and
music with strong messages that we hope will challenge you minds and help bring to the
world LOVE, PEACE AND HAPPINESS.
WE HAVE COME
FULL CIRCLE
Fred Wesley |
