Fred Wesley & The New JB's are the primary keepers of roots funk music. Wesley, one of the forefathers of funk, is the legendary bandleader, trombonist who helped make James Brown's music what it was ...

In the late ’60s, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, had a radical break with his orchestra, which quit over a pay dispute. In its place, Brown hired some fiery teenagers from Cincinnati, bassist ...

ATLANTA — Trombonist Fred Wesley helped create the blueprint for funk music. His precise, catchy brass riffs and solo performances were core elements on songs by some of funk’s most prominent ...

Trombonist Fred Wesley might as well have copyrighted the term “horny horn.” He and bass superhero Bootsy Collins not only share a superhuman ability to evoke sweaty, funky palpitations—they’re also ...

When the Godfather of Soul decided he wanted to be the king of funk in the ’60s, he hired a young trombone player who would not only redefine how that instrument was played but be instrumental in the ...

New Orleans funk giants The Soul Rebels have announced a spring tour, uniting a slew of high-profile festival appearances in a two-month coastal sprint. The eight-piece ensemble will bring its ...

That’s how the world was introduced to Fred Wesley, the longtime trombonist and arranger for James Brown. The godfather may have docked his musicians for missing a note, but he paid them the ultimate ...