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 ...

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 ...

For those of us who never got to see James Brown perform live with his classic 1970s lineups, catching Fred Wesley at Floyd's The Sun Music Hall would have to do. But the show did more than just do.

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 ...