Summit shots and a new blog header

Many thanks this Monday to funky friend Heinrich Buttler, aka the "Soul Preacher," for creating the new header that now graces this blog. Heinrich, shown below with Fred at the Jazz House Kids anniversary gala last October, is a leading global collector of soul music and Fred's official discographer. He also is a talented graphic artist and photographer who generously lends his professional skills in endless and endlessly kind ways. Thanks, Heinrich!

Also, thanks to Steven Bromberg, a friend of NCCU Jazz, for these shots from the Trombone Summit that joined Fred earlier this month with trombonists Clifford Adams and Robert Trowers. Thanks, Steven!

Clifford Adams, Fred, Robert Trowers.

Clifford Adams wowing the crowd with his vocal chops on Horace Silver's "Song for My Father."

Tuning up for a Trombone Summit this Sunday!

Fred's hard at work practicing so he'll be ready Sunday to face two of his most respected trombone-playing compadres: Clifford Adams of Kool and the Gang and Robert Trowers, a fellow alum of the Count Basie Orchestra. 

Trowers, now a faculty member in North Carolina Central University's excellent jazz program, put the Summit together, mainly for middle and high school students, to "stimulate student interest in the trombone, an instrument that seems to be under-represented in school  bands and orchestras in general."

The Summit is free and open to the public.

Back to Japan for a "Meters Experience"

Fred and his old P-Funk compadre Bernie Worrell, the keyboard genius behind all of the hottest Parliament-Funkadelic anthems, joined up in Japan last week as special guests of Leo Nocentelli and his Meters Experience, featuring Bill Dickens on bass, Stanton Moore on drums, CR Gruver on keys and Pastor Steven Perriloux on congas and vocals. The congregation of funky people played one night at Billboard Live in Osaka and two nights at the Billboard Live in Tokyo.

In addition to the great music, the trip also afforded Fred a chance to visit with some old and new friends, including Ryo Nakata and other members of Osaka Monaurail, and other friends made during his last trip to Japan, courtesy of Hennessy Artistry, just two months earlier in November.

Here are some photos from the experience. Enjoy.

Fred with Bernie Worrell.

Flowers greeting the band in Tokyo.

Soundchecking in Tokyo, with Leo (and Bill in the background).

Onstage in Tokyo.

Onstage in Tokyo.

Signing autographs after the last Tokyo show.

Fred backstage in Tokyo with his NYC-Tokyo-Honolulu friend Hiro.

Fred with Tokyo friend Rosie.

Backstage in Tokyo with friend including Mr. and Mrs. Seki, as well as Ryo and other Osaka Monaurail members.

View from the 22nd floor of the Tokyo Hilton.

Funky Fred goes heavy metal

Fred hit the ATL last week for a recording session with the monstrously talented

yet modestly unassuming trumpeter Russell Gunn. Fred made a guest appearance on
the forthcoming Hotshoe Records CD from Gunn & his band Elektrik Butterfly,which features the music of Black Sabbath. Also in the house was trombonist Andre Heyward. Thanks to Leatrice Elizy of Beatrix Moss, a cultural curation firm, for these photos.

Fred and Russell

Russell, Fred, Ede Wright (guitar), Phil Davis (keys), Kevin Scott (bass) and Che Marshall (drums) plus Andre Heyward (foreground). 

In other news, Fred followed the session with a gig with Mark Sterbank's Hymns and Spirituals jazz group at Charleston Southern University. This weekend, he's giving a jazz performance at a fundraiser in his adopted hometown of Manning, SC, for Morris College, and at the end of January will head back to Japan for some guest appearances with guitarist Leo Nocentelli.

Finally, check out the blog's Media Archive for the following new additions:

• Live video from the hot Japan session with Osaka Monaurail;

• News about the New JBs' coming appearance at Perth, Australia's West Coast Blues 'N' Roots festival;

• An archived interview with Joe Kelly on his WVOF radio show The Upper Room;

• A blast from the past, courtesy of Canadian fan Will Torrens (thanks Will!), who sent youtube excerpts from a Fred appearance with the now defunct JB Horns on the now defunct UK TV program, "The South Bank Show."

Enjoy!