Recorded in 1989 and released in 1990, this CD is among the various projects that has come from James Brown's former sidemen. Pee Wee, Fred & Maceo reunites three of the Godfather's top horn players -- alto saxophonist Maceo Parker, tenor saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and trombonist Fred Wesley -- for a program of instrumental funk, soul-jazz and R&B vocals. Brown was notoriously hard on his sidemen; in fact, he was famous (or infamous) for docking their pay if they hit wrong notes. So you can be sure that musicians who stayed with Brown as long as these guys had major chops, and one would naturally greet this album with high expectations. But while Pee Wee, Fred & Maceo is decent, it isn't as strong as it could have been. Although instrumentals like "Mother's Kitchen," "Everywhere Is Out of Town" and "Sweet and Tangy" are catchy and likable, this album isn't the gem that Parker, Ellis and Wesley were quite capable of providing. Nonetheless, it deserved more radio airplay than it received. Urban contemporary radio ignored the CD, and only the Godfather's most diehard fans bought it. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
