Celebrating his long-awaited-finally-completed Blues album!

It's here! It's done -- recorded (2018) and now mixed and mastered at Little Big Beat Studios in Liechtenstein, the album "From the Blues and Back" is ready for release early next year.  Fred is ending 2022 proud to have finally completed this longtime labor of love for the fans who helped make it happen.  Stay tuned for the 2023 release date (TBD).

  

Fred's also welcoming longtime agent Peter Basler of Basitours to his new role as Fred's main European agent. Europe touring is scheduled to resume in May with the New JB's, Fred's band, to which he also is grateful, for adding their extraordinary talents to his touring, to his life, and now to a new album. Have a Happy New Year and watch the calendar for a funky good time near you.

Home safe after finishing 2022 in France

Many thanks to all the French fans who helped Fred and his New JBs close out 2022 on such a high note. And special thanks to photographer Xavier Chauvet for these awesome photos from Blois, France, one of two All That Jazz shows that highlighted the tour. 

Thank you to these professionals who anchored the funk masterclass Fred presented at the last stop in at Magic Mirrors in Le Harve, France.

Thanks to Fred fans worldwide for all the love and support to date. Stay tuned for more tours in 2023, and for the long-awaited release of the blues album, "From the Blues and Back."

On the road in France

France loves Fred and has welcomed him and his New JBs back this week with sold-out All That Jazz  shows in Marseille and Blois, and with more than 900 happy fans at the Èclats d'Email Festival in Limoges. He pulled into Paris and is prepped for yet another sold out night tomorrow at the New Morning.

Here's the short tour's first night in Marseille.

Here's the joy in Blois.

Here's Fred getting another (his 100th?) shot of the Eiffel Tower as the band pulled into Paris.

Home safe, recharging for more touring

Fred and his mighty New JBs did what he promises in his Funk School Hymn, "spread funk all o're all lands," with stops in Switzerland and Italy this month. The already powerful horn section featuring Fred, Gary Winters on trumpet and Jay Rodriguez on saxophone and flute got supersized in Zurich with the addition of old friends Candy Dulfer and Nils Landgren. Click here for photos from the night. For seven nights Rose Ann Dimalanta lent her funky brilliance and beauty to Fred's 30-years-strong rhythm section featuring Bruce Cox on drums, Dwayne Dolphin on bass, and Reggie Ward on guitar.

Next up, with original member Peter Madsen rejoining on keys, are dates in France, including another night Nov. 29 at Fred's beloved New Morning in Paris. Tickets are still available. Next year, stay tuned for Fred and the band's 80th Birthday World Tour.

On the road again, in Switzerland, Italy

Fred gathered with his band The New JBs in Switzerland, where they shared this first meal before the first fall tour's first gig at the Grand Hotel Giessbach in Brienz. Many thanks to the hotel's team for the warm welcome to a magical and hustoric place surrounded by breath-taking natural beauty.

Sharing history at association's 107th annual meeting

Fred, who is living history, will chop it up with funk scholar Scot Brown during a session this Friday at the Association for the Study of African American Life and History's 107th annual meeting in Montgomery, Alabama. 

The conference is the association's first in-person gathering since before the pandemic. It will feature a rich program of scholarly sessions, professional workshops, historical tours, a film festival and book signings. Fred will sign copies of his Duke University Press memoir "Hit me, Fred: Recollections of a Side Man" after his session, entitled "Remembering the Roots of Funk."

The conference will also feature Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative and a tour of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery.

Home safe to rest and restore

Many thanks to Cimafunk for inviting Fred to Paris for yet another magical musical experience at Jazz à La Villette, and thank you to Joachim Bertrand for  capturing this shot of the action.  

Click here to enjoy a taste of the evening, courtesy of france.tv. Merci beaucoup!

Rehearsed and ready in Paris!

Alabama converged with Cuba as Fred and Cimafunk rehearsed for their show together at Jazz à La Villette. It was a joy to watch the talented group of young people pay homage to one of their heroes. Click here to buy tickets to the show.

Home savoring Seattle, getting set for Cimafunk in Paris

It was a funky good time in the Pacific Northwest last week as Fred made his first appearance with his band the New JBs at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, where he played many previous times with other projects. Many thanks to the club's staff and all the friends, family and fans who came from near and far to be part of the party. 

Up next: In Paris at Jazz à La Villette, Fred will put some Afro Cuban flavor on his funk when he guests with Cimafunk, and they'll top it off with a little New Orleans brought by bill-mate Tank and the Bangas. A not-to-be-missed night Sept. 1.

Home safe and set for Seattle!

With some heartfelt merci beaucoups, danke schoens and thank yours, Fred and his New JBs made it through their summer European tour’s last dates in France, Germany and the UK, then home safe.

After a very short break, they'll be back at it in Seattle, at the famous Jazz Alley, Aug. 18-21. Click here to see if tickets are still available.

A welcoming sign on the backstage door in London.

Soundchecking at Ronnie's.

Posing in Sète, France, with the horn section of Cuban funk phenom Cimafunk, with whom Fred will make a guest appearance Sept. 1 in Paris at Jazz La Villette. Click here for tickets. ####

Thanking Italy and returning to France…

Many thanks to all the Italian and Croatian fans who made the past week so lovely for Fred and his hard-funking compadres. Only five more dates before it’s a wrap on this summer’s New JBs tour of Europe. Next stop: the breathtakingly beautiful Fiesta Sète, There, they’ll  share the bill with Cimafunk from Cuba.

The coastline blocks from the open air show in Finale Ligure. 

The poster for the entire Italian Riviera Jazz and Blues Festival.

Poster in Zadar for the Zadar Jazz and Blues Festival.

Soundchecking in Gorizia.

Fred greeting the saxophone-playing, band-leading young woman mayor of lovely Tolfa, Italy at Tolfa Jazz.

Returned to Porretta…

Fred got a moment to do a little shopping before bumping into his old friend and bandmate Martha High before both performed at the Porretta Soul Fest.

Fred and his New JBs moved on from there to a great night at Fano Jazz by the Sea, where saxophonist Jay Rodriguez accidentally got this cool shot. 

Then it was  to Tolfa Jazz. Next: Gorizia. 

St. Moritz to Sardinia, Italy...

Many thanks to the good people at the fabulous Kulm Hotel and the Festival da Jazz of St. Moritz, Switzerland, for showing Fred and his cats such a funky good time. Click here for a gallery of photos from fotoswiss.com. And click here for a facebook gallery of shots from the soundcheck in Angers, France, courtesy of https://tribune2lartiste.com/. Merci!

Moving right along, tonight: Sassari, Sardinia, Italy. 

Next: The Porretta Soul Festival.

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Vienne, Angers, St. Moritz and more!

Fred’s summer tour with his New JBs is off to an excellent start. Thank you to the good people at Jazz a Vienne and Tempo 2 Rives for giving them such s warm reception.

They’re on the road today toward the Festival da Jazz in St. Moritz.

Set for a hot summer: France, London, Seattle and more!

Fred is settled and celebrating at home in Montgomery, Alabama. He turns 79 on July 4 and is grooving happily into the last summer tour of his 70s. It begins July 13 and hits some of his favorite festivals including Jazz a Vienne and some of his favorite clubs, including London’s Ronnie Scott’s. Click here to see all the summer's dates. Catch him if you can!

Just added: August 18-21 at Seattle's Jazz Alley!

Back at it in France!

Planes, trains, automobiles and other wheeled vehicles transported Fred smoothly through France and Spain, and home safely from an excellent tour with Abraham Incorporated. He sends a big merci beaucoup to the many people who made it such a blessed experience, including his friends at the SNCF, which provided much-appreciated special assistance for train trips linking gigs. 

It was his second trip to France this year, and he’s going back in July for a summer tour with his New JBs, which also toured France in February. The summer tour also includes dates in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and London. Click here to see the updated calendar.

After big losses in 2020 and 2021, 2022 is showing Fred a particularly funky good time. He started out with a bang at NYC’s legendary Blue Note with DJ Logic and Friends, and the friends that night included Anderson .Paak! Click here to see video from that set.

Photo caption: Abraham Inc on the road in France. (l-r) Joya Wesley (daughter and manager), SNCF agent, Tony Lewis (drums), Sarah MK (vocals and rap), Gary Winters (trumpet), Fred, Maite Dhelin (booking agent), Jerome Harris (bass and vocals), Allen Watsky (guitar), Jay Rodriguez (sax and flute), David Krakauer (clarinet). Not pictured: Socalled (keys, vocals, accordion, etc.). Photo Credit: Socalled (Josh Dolgin).###