sheldonm Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 I went to see Melvin Sparks B3 Trio last night, excellent show. A friend of mine (Rob Dixon) sat in on Tenor for several tunes. Anyone here a fan of Melvin? Mel Rhyne showed up for a few minutes but the next time I looked up he was out of there. Here's one of my images from the show. m~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Yes, definitely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Yeah, me too. I have a strong feeling I have everything he's ever recorded, as leader or sideman. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Just checked - I'm missing 3 albums: one each by by Jimmy Witherspoon, Etta Jones & Leon Thomas. Oh well... MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Melvin Sparks is one of my favorite guitar players. I wonder why he doesn't get more attention. He always has something interesting to say musically in almost any context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Melvin Sparks is one of my favorite guitar players. I wonder why he doesn't get more attention. He always has something interesting to say musically in almost any context. Agree entirely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Melvin Sparks is one of my favorite guitar players. I wonder why he doesn't get more attention. He always has something interesting to say musically in almost any context. Though actually he doesn't record much outside the realm of Soul Jazz. I have one Gospel album on which he appeared (by Dorothy Norwood) and one neoSoul album (by Case, and it isn't very good). As far as I can tell, Mel makes no difference to either of these albums. However, within Soul Jazz, Mel does have a wide range: very Texas-stle blues guitar work (as on "ESPM the reunion: Live at Akhbar Hall"); very straight-ahead material (as on "Sparkling"); funky Acid Jazz (much of his work); and even some Pharoah Sanders style material (as on "Give your life to G-d" from "This is it!"). Looking forward to the release of his next album "Groove on up", to be released on 23 May. What a nice sleeve that is! MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Looking forward to the release of his next album "Groove on up", to be released on 23 May. What a nice sleeve that is! Very nice indeed! Thanks for the heads-up! I love Sparks! He very definitely lives up to his name! The two recordings that spring to mind are Reuben Wilson's BLUE MODE and Red Holloway/Plas Johnson's KEEP THAT GROOVE GOING. His sound doesn't seem to have changed much over the years, and ain't nothing wrong with that! The man knows how to grooooooooove!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 (edited) I'll add Red Holloway's cd Coast to Coast as a good place to hear Sparks' playing in great form with a group of simpatico musicians. Cookin' cd Edited May 12, 2006 by Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 (edited) Man, I've been listening to clips of Melvin Sparks all morning: solo stuff, stuff with Reuben Wilson, Ron Levy, etc. and I am HOOKED!!!! Some titles on the immediate short-list: Fun House - Reuben Wilson I'm a Gittar Player - Melvin Sparks It Is What It Is - Melvin Sparks This is It! - Melvin Sparks Legends of Acid Jazz - Melvin Sparks Greaze is What's Good - Ron Levy Where's the best place to acquire these? They're pretty pricey at Amazon, and I'd rather get 'em new.... y'know, supporting the artist & all that. I especially love it when Idris Muhammad is on board to keep the greeeeaze flowin'! More recs, please!!!! Edited May 12, 2006 by Big Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Man, I've been listening to clips of Melvin Sparks all morning: solo stuff, stuff with Reuben Wilson, Ron Levy, etc. and I am HOOKED!!!! Some titles on the immediate short-list: Fun House - Reuben Wilson I'm a Gittar Player - Melvin Sparks It Is What It Is - Melvin Sparks This is It! - Melvin Sparks Legends of Acid Jazz - Melvin Sparks Greaze is What's Good - Ron Levy Where's the best place to acquire these? They're pretty pricey at Amazon, and I'd rather get 'em new.... y'know, supporting the artist & all that. I especially love it when Idris Muhammad is on board to keep the greeeeaze flowin'! More recs, please!!!! I find CD Universe a bit cheaper for quite a few things. Gittar player and the Ron Levy are deleted, following the demise of Levy's company Cannonball. Second hand is all you'll get for those. "What you hear is what you get" is another good one of Mel's own albums. That's out on Savant, as well - originally issued on Nectar. Sparks fans tend to think that his solo on Rusty Bryant's "Soul liberation" is his best. I don't think it's his best, but that's a damn fine album. It's included in Rusty Bryant's "Legends of Acid Jazz" PRCD???? (my copy's Japanese). Two other Acid Jazz legends CDs you might investigate are the ones by Sonny Stitt (PRCD24169) and Leon Spencer (PRCD24185). His own mid '70s albums - "Texas twister" and "Mel Sparks '75" - are included in a British issue on the Beat Goes Public label (dist by Ace) CDBGPD092. You'll have to import that but the first is great! The second is only good. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Melvin is the man and that Gibson he has is beautiful. What model is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Man, I've been listening to clips of Melvin Sparks all morning: solo stuff, stuff with Reuben Wilson, Ron Levy, etc. and I am HOOKED!!!! Some titles on the immediate short-list: Fun House - Reuben Wilson I'm a Gittar Player - Melvin Sparks It Is What It Is - Melvin Sparks This is It! - Melvin Sparks Legends of Acid Jazz - Melvin Sparks Greaze is What's Good - Ron Levy Where's the best place to acquire these? They're pretty pricey at Amazon, and I'd rather get 'em new.... y'know, supporting the artist & all that. I especially love it when Idris Muhammad is on board to keep the greeeeaze flowin'! More recs, please!!!! I would add this one to your list--Charles Earland, Slammin' and Jammin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Gotta give it up for Sparkplug. Been muchly digging on his contributions to Lonnie Smith's THINK! (esp. "Son Of Ice Bag") lately. Any more details on the soon-to-be Savant release? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allblues Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 The Live Music Archive has some live shows to download. Mostly audience recordings but there are a couple of soundboards as well, including the 2003 North Beach Jazz Festival. EMusic has the first two Savant albums and Legends of Acid Jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sal Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 I saw him play quite some time ago as the special guest of a funk band named Robert Walter's 20th Congress. It was a great show and I was impressed by Melvin's abilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted March 16, 2010 Report Share Posted March 16, 2010 Really, really been digging the LEGENDS OF ACID JAZZ comp today, which couples his first two Prestige LPs: SPARKS! and SPARK PLUG. Newbury has it through Amazon for $4.99 + shipping, so about 8 bucks total... glad I got it. Note to sheldonm: trumpeter on both dates is Virgil Jones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 years ago I played with him at a jam session in Bridgeport. He knocked everybody out. Chops galore, great straight-ahead player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 years ago I played with him at a jam session in Bridgeport. He knocked everybody out. Chops galore, great straight-ahead player. AND HE PLAYED ON "HOT DOG"!!!! MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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