Posted in music on March 22, 2011
Melvin Sparks, a guitarist whose brightly sinewy style made him an in-demand session player during the soul-jazz boom of the late 1960s and early '70s, a touchstone during the acid-jazz trend of the '90s and a wise elder on the jam-band scene of the last decade, died on March 13 at his home in Mount Vernon, N.Y. He was 64.R.I.P. Melvin.His wife, Judy Hassan, confirmed his death and said that he had diabetes and high blood pressure.
Mr. Sparkas favored a clean, flinty tone, combining the brisk harmonic fluency of bebop with the bite and feeling of the blues. His early career coincided with a golden age for soul music, and he took its lessons deeply to heart. He liked to say simply that he played "jazz over a funky beat." -[NY Times]
--
Melvin Sparks - Texas Twister - 1973 [Soul-Jazz]
Melvin Sparks - Who's Gonna Take The Weight
Melvin Sparks - My Girl
Comments (3)
Leave a Comment
PLEASE NOTE: If your comment does not appear immediately, it will show up shortly.
Recently
Recent Comments
- Denmark's When Saints Go Machine releasing 'Infinity Pool,' making US live debut next month in NYC (dates, streams) (2) Anonymous wrote: worst wardrobe stylist ever.... [more]
- The National played Sycamore & Public Assembly (pics); Mercury Lounge is later tonight (21) Anonymous wrote: There's a girl that I swear is at every one of their shows. She nee... [more]
- Olafur Arnalds announces US tour dates ++ stream his LPR show from April (2) Anonymous wrote: he has to change his name. Too much confusion. Maybe I'll just chan... [more]
- listen to the title track from Deafheaven's new 'Sunbather' LP (8) Chris wrote: 1:59, 3:01 - Boo-fucking-hoo...poser shit? I suppose you were born ... [more]
- The National played Mercury Lounge (pics & setlist) (8) Anonymous wrote: 11:46.... no "Sorrow"? I seriously laughed out loud at that... [more]
- Julia Holter announces new album on Domino (watch the video for the single) +++ updated tour dates (2) Anonymous wrote: Why then has every show I've seen been such a dissapointment... [more]
- Spiders From Mars/Uriah Heep bassist Trevor Bolder, RIP (2) Anonymous wrote: That's really sad. Trevor followed up possibly my favorite bassist... [more]
- Butter The Children signed to Downtown, playing shows; Ovlov on tour, releasing debut LP (dates & MP3s) (42) Anonymous wrote: Let's see no major press buzz? No huge underground following? You p... [more]
Recent Galleries
-
Foxygen, Amen Dunes, LODRO & Prince Rupert's Drops played first BV-curated RBSS show at the Knit (pics)
-
Phoenix played The Apollo with Blood Orange (pics, setlist)
-
Coachella Weekend 2 Day 3 in pics (Ghost BC, The Three O'Clock, DIIV, Thee Oh Sees, Nick Cave, Grimes & more)
-
Coachella Day 3 Photos (Wu-Tang Clan, Vampire Weekend, Father John Misty, Grimes, Kurt Vile, James Blake ++ more)
Most Popular
- The National played Sycamore & Public Assembly (pics); Mercury Lounge is later tonight (21)
- The Flamin' Groovies touring with Chris Wilson in the band for first time since 1981 (2 NYC shows included) (10)
- Judge reunited at Black & Blue Bowl (video), added to This is Hardcore in Philly with Kill Your Idols & more (line-up) (66)
- Kisses released 'Kids in LA' (stream it), add tour dates (6)
- The National played Mercury Lounge (pics & setlist) (10)
- Peter Hook & the Light performing New Order's 'Movement' and 'Power, Corruption & Lies' on tour (dates) (8)
- Ty Segall releasing new solo LP, announces summer shows (8)
- Butter The Children signed to Downtown, playing shows; Ovlov on tour, releasing debut LP (dates & MP3s) (42)
Browse Categories (or Browse Tags)
Blogroll
Blogroll Links
- Todd P
- BV Austin
- Stereogum
- BV Chicago
- Thighs Wide Shut
- music snobbery
- done waiting
- Invisible Oranges
- Blabbermouth
- largehearted boy
- gorilla vs bear
- chromewaves
- my old kentucky blog
- You Ain't No Picasso
- The Bergstrom
- Muzzle of Bees
- La Blogoteque
- Daytrotter
- Fluxblog
- Nah Right
- RCRD LBL
- Arjan Writes
- Free Williamsburg
- Hype Machine
- I Guess I'm Floating
- Hipster Runoff
- An Aquarium Drunkard
- The Daily Swarm
- Boing Boing
- Brownstoner
- Gothamist
- Curbed
- Gawker
- WFMU
- WNYC
Colophon
- Twitter.com/BrooklynVegan
- Twitter.com/AllBVposts
- Twitter.com/BVTicketsOnSale
- Twitter.com/BVNYCShows
- Twitter.com/bvCMJ
- Twitter.com/bvSXSW
- Twitter.com/bvComedy
- Twitter.com/InvisOranges
- Facebook.com/BrooklynVegan
- Facebook.com/BrooklynVeganChicago
- Facebook.com/BVAustin
- Facebook.com/InvisibleOranges
- Instagram.com/BrooklynVegan
- Instagram.com/BVChicago
- Instagram.com/BVAustin
- Instagram.com/InvisibleOranges
- MySpace
- MySpace.com/BrooklynVegan
- NEW.MySpace.com/BrooklynVegan
- Feeds
- RSS
Today is Melvin's birthday... RIP Melvin, thanks for the great memories.
Posted by Anonymous | March 22, 2011 5:42 PM
saw him steal the show from maceo parker in baltimore.
Posted by Anonymous | March 22, 2011 7:16 PM
R.I.P.
Posted by Anonymous | March 22, 2011 7:55 PM