Fred Wesley and The New J.B.’s
Fred Wesley is a renowned American trombonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader pivotal in shaping funk music. He led The New J.B.’s, a revival of James Brown’s original J.B.’s band, continuing their funky legacy into modern times.
Born in Columbus, Georgia, and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Fred Wesley started as a teenage trombonist with Ike and Tina Turner. His early experiences honed his skills before joining major acts.
From 1968 to 1975, Wesley served as music director, arranger, trombonist, and composer for James Brown’s J.B.’s, shifting their sound to funk. Hits like "Doing It to Death" earned gold status under his leadership.
In 1976, Wesley joined George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic with Maceo Parker, contributing to influential albums and groups like The Horny Horns and Bootsy’s Rubber Band. This elevated funk’s experimental edge.
Wesley played with Count Basie Orchestra in 1978, toured as JB Horns with Parker and Pee Wee Ellis in the 1990s, then formed The Fred Wesley Group in 1996, later The New J.B.’s. He released solo albums like "House Party" and memoir "Hit Me, Fred," while appearing in films such as "When We Were Kings."
Formed as a core ensemble for over 30 years, The New J.B.’s performs classics like "Pass the Peas" alongside jazz-funk originals. Current lineup includes Wesley on trombone, with keys, sax, trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums.
Breakin’ Bread
Written-By, Arranged By – Fred Wesley, James Brown 4:20
A2 I Wanna Get Down
Arranged By, Written-By – St. Clair Pinckney
Written-By – James Brown
Written-By, Arranged By – Fred Wesley 3:14
A3 Little Boy Black
Arranged By – Dave Matthews, Dave Matthews
Written-By – Fred Wesley, James Brown 3:54
A4 Rice 'N' Ribs
Written-By, Arranged By – Fred Wesley, James Brown 4:05
B1 Rockin' Funky Watergate
Arranged By – James Brown
Written-By – Deidre Brown 5:16
B2 Makin' Love
Written-By, Arranged By – Fred Wesley, James Brown 3:36
B3 Funky Music Is My Style
Written-By – Bob Both
Written-By, Arranged By – Fred Wesley, James Brown 5:24
B4 Step Child
Written-By, Arranged By – Fred Wesley, James Brown 6:43
Label: People – PE 6604
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
Breakin' Bread is a 1974 funk and jazz-funk album by Fred Wesley and The New J.B.’s, renowned for its heavy grooves, innovative inclusion of early rap-styled and go-go influences, and significant contributions from producer James Brown. The album is described as an "air-tight, eight-course meal" of funky music, with most tracks featuring intricate and infectious basslines and rhythms.
Released in October 1974 on Brown's People label, the album features trombonist and bandleader Fred Wesley at the helm, though James Brown's influence is evident throughout, from his producer role to co-writing most tracks. Brown's picture even appears on the cover.
A distinctive characteristic of the album is the inclusion of a brief, spoken-word monologue by Wesley at the start of most tracks, where he shares reminiscences of home and pays tribute to James Brown, setting a warm, personal tone.
The music primarily features Brown-styled funk, but incorporates experimental elements that were ahead of their time, such as early rap influences on the title track and "Little Boy Black," and a dive into hard-core bebop jazz on the closing instrumental "Step Child".
In summary, Breakin' Bread delivers heavy, deep funk with tight instrumentation, sophisticated arrangements, and powerful, often chanted, vocals, solidifying Fred Wesley's role as a funk innovator alongside the tightest band in the business, the J.B.'s.