Maceo Parker, Komedia, Brighton, April 16

1:19pm Friday 11th April 2008

"The very first thing he ever said in life to me - he didn't say Hi' or What's your name?' - he said, Do you play baritone sax?' "I did not want the conversation to end and I said, Yes.' "If he'd asked me if I played saxophone standing on my head, I'd have said, Yes.'"

He must have told the story a hundred times before, but more than 40 years after the meeting that would change Maceo Parker's life, his excitement and incredulity remain.

The "he" that Maceo is referring to is, of course, the late "Godfather of Soul" James Brown. Maceo, then a music student, first met him in 1964, after he played a gig in Parker's hometown of North Carolina.

Riding on the coat-tails of his brother Melvin, a drummer who had caught Brown's eye when performing a year previously, the young saxophonist persuaded Brown he should hire him, as well as Melvin, for his band.

The brothers intended to stay for six months before heading back to college, but as Maceo puts it: "We stayed a lot longer than that."

Now 65, Parker made his name with James Brown. After getting into the band on little more than youthful cheek and charm, he became its top instrumentalist. His signature style helped define Brown's brand of funk and "Maceo, I want you to blow" - Brown's call for him to begin one of his famed sax solos - became a characteristic element of live shows.

"They were very exciting times for us," recalls Maceo. "For two brothers to be playing in a band with James Brown - that was top notch stuff.

"It was very exciting being that close to him. We used to say we'd got the best seats in the house.

"I used to not only watch him but the reaction from the crowds. People were really amazed by the things he could do. He was only about 30 years old then and very energetic."

Maceo has gone on to lend his sound to everyone from George Clinton, of legendary funk band Parliament, to Bootsy Collins, Prince and De La Soul. He remains one of the most sampled musicians around.

"When I went to college, everybody wanted to play jazz and that put me off," he says of how he developed his style, "I don't like being like everybody and I thought, Why does no one want to play funky?' "I decided, I'm going to play funky and that style sort of fitted really, really well with that James Brown style.

"Then, whenever people needed a funky sax solo, there I was."

He has released 15 solo albums now, the latest of which, Roots And Grooves, saw him collaborate with a big band in a Maceo-style tribute to one of his heroes, Ray Charles.

So, is there anyone he still wants to work with?

"I still like anybody whose last name is Jackson!" he says.

"I met Michael once and Janet - I would love to do something with her. Stevie Wonder would be kind of nice, Usher gets kinda funky now and then - there's still a long list."

His live show is, he says, "a mixture of James Brown stuff, a little bit of George Clinton, a bit of Bootsy, some Prince".

"We have everything that's geared to party, party, party - it's going to be really good," he adds. "I still really enjoy travelling and touring. I love music, I love performing and I love people most of all.

"I know there's going to be a point when I'm not satisfied with myself any more and I'll have to slow down. But I haven't got there yet."

• Starts 8.30pm, tickets £20. Call 01273 647100.

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