Saxophonist Maceo Parker is billed as the "living, breathing pulse which connects the history of funk in one golden thread."

With a pedigree and background as musically rich and decorative as his, the description is more than fitting.

The veteran saxophonist -- who has performed and collaborated with Prince, James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, Ray Charles, Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to name a few -- performs tonight at Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem.

Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $34-$44.

Parker can be heard on such albums as Brown's Sex Machine, Parliament's Mothership Connection, Red Hot Chili Pepper's sophomore effort Freaky Styley and Prince's 3121 and Planet Earth albums. His most recent studio recording is 2012's Soul Classics.

Musikfest Cafe is inside the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.