Maceo Parker Plays Kimmel Center's Merriam Theater Tonight

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts welcomes one of today's reigning saxophonists, Maceo Parker, and his unique blend of crowd-pleasing jazz, funk, R&B, soul and hip-hop to Philadelphia for a show guaranteed to get jazz fans up and moving. The Jazz at The Kimmel season continues when Maceo Parker takes center stage at the Merriam Theater tonight, January 17 at 8 p.m. Joining Maceo Parker on stage is Greg Boyer (trombone), Will Boulware (keys), Bruno Speight (guitar), Rodney "Skeet" Curtis (bass), Rodney Holmes (drums), with vocalists Martha High and Darliene Parker.

Sax master and consummate showman Maceo Parker, who first became a legend for his work with James Brown and George Clinton's band Parliament-Funkadelic, is one of the early pioneers of modern funk and hip-hop. Having partnered and contributed to countless albums and live tours with names from De La Soul to Prince, Ani Difranco to James Taylor, and Jane's Addiction to Dave Matthews, his band has been billed as "the greatest little funk orchestra on earth" and the "million dollar support band."

"Our celebration of jazz continues this season as we fill the Merriam with the infectious sound of the great engineer of funk, Maceo Parker's, and his sensational sax! We are thrilled to present the living, breathing pulse that connects the history of funk to today's dance music," said Anne Ewers, president and CEO of the Kimmel Center.

Since working with James Brown, Maceo Parker has been recognized as one of the early innovators of modern jazz and continues to enjoy a phenomenal solo career, building on his legendary sound with new and stylistically diverse work that is as he navigates deftly between James Brown's 1960s soul and George Clinton's 1970s funk while exploring jazz and hip-hop.

Maceo is the living, breathing pulse which connects the history of funk in one golden thread; the cipher which unravels dance music down to its core. In July of 2012 Maceo was presented with Les Victoires du Jazz in Paris, a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to music. The same weekend he was presented with an Icon Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, with the following inscription: Maceo Parker, a music-maker and world-class performer for almost fifty years, distinguishes himself through exceptional musicality and craftsmanship. The inspired and indefatigable saxophonist has made an indelible mark on soul, funk and jazz.

Tickets are available from $30 to $50 Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org, at the Kimmel Center box office at Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).