Sparks, Melvin
Savant, 2004, CD
Instrument: Guitar
Issue: 10.3
Jazz Ruler Type: funk
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 
O’s Notes: Guitarist Melvin Sparks plays jazzed up old school funky R&B. His selection of music includes covers of Sly Stewart’s “Thankyou”, “Pick Up The Pieces” and a sizzling version of “Give Me The Night”. The balance of tracks is primarily originals that capture the same groove. His band includes the requisite B3 manned by Adam Scone or Jeremy Baum, Joe Herbek (sax) and drummer Eric Kalb. Sparks’ approach is to simply state the melody and then burst into explosive solos on guitars and from the rest of his band. “Charlie Brown” and “A Love Jam” are excellent examples of this approach. There is a lot of funk, generous improvisation and a lot of soul.
