"Blessed Blackness" - Fred Wesley

"Blessed Blackness" (PDF) from The J.B.'s album, Food for Thought, and compilation, Funky Good Time: The Anthology.

(2022 revision):
In 1971, James Brown signed a deal with Polydor Records that provided global distribution for his catalog as well as the operational funding for his own record label, People Records - allowing Mr. Brown to re-hire his former trombonist and musical director, Fred Wesley. Upon Fred’s return, Mr. Brown ordered him to complete an unfinished album of leftover instrumentals from The J.B.’s. Along with band originals, like as “Pass The Peas” and “Gimme Some More,” Fred contributed two original works, “Blessed Blackness” and “Wine Spot,” - under the guidance of New York City arranger Dave Matthews and copyist Emile Charlap - to the album that would become Food For Thought.

The recording session for Fred’s tunes utilized a team of New York City jazz musicians assembled by Matthews - likely as a financial decision by Mr. Brown, where the efficiency of studio musicians was cheaper than the touring band, as time equals money. In his autobiography, Fred reflected upon his deep appreciation to session players’ ability to instantly realize his musical sketches, as well as for how Matthews and Charlap uplifted his work as a struggling Black composer to help create one of the most influential funk albums of all time.

Recommended Reading: Hit Me Fred: Recollections of a Sideman by Fred Wesley Jr.  Published by Duke University Press.