The fabulous result, Live at Nectar's, is now available on The New Mastersounds' own label, One Note Records.
Organist Beau Sasser and drummer Bill Carbone had been working with Sparks for several years and, despite the difference in age—they were in their early 30s, while the guitarist was an elder- statesmen of the genre—the unit was razor sharp.
The trio played the Burlington, VT club Nectar's regularly, but this evening featured two variables. Per the recommendation of the venue, they used The Grippo Horns, featuring Dave Grippo on alto saxophone and Brian McCarthy on tenor saxophone. This was the only time Sparks utilized a horn section in the last several years of his life. Additionally, they captured the performance on a multitrack recording. Both would prove to be wise decisions.
Lovingly mixed by guitarist, producer and Sparks' fanatic Eddie Roberts and curated for release by drummer Simon Allen, the album demonstrates that the 64-year old guitarist played as well in the final months of his life as at any other time.
From the opening "Miss Riverside" through rousing set-closer "Whip! Whop!," Sparks peppers his performance with quotes from jazz standards, pop songs and cartoon themes, all woven effortlessly into the bebop-funk dialect he helped create. He offers delectable melodies, patiently and methodically, through his lengthy lead on "Breezin,'" while delivering a slice of red hot boogaloo on "Fire Eater."
Sparks is audibly uplifted by The Grippo Horns helping him perform his 1973 arrangement of "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got)" for the first time in decades.
Texas-born, Melvin Sparks was an R&B guitarist at the outset of his career, backing Jackie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye as a member of The Upsetters. He gave up his seat on The Upsetters' bus when a chance introduction to George Benson inspired him to relocate to New York City; a decision that would ultimately pave the way for his ascension into the soul jazz pantheon.
Sparks would go onto play and record with Lou Donaldson, Leon Spencer, Bernard Purdie, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Idris Muhammad, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, Grover Washington Jr., Reuben Wilson and so many more. He'd also record nearly a dozen stand-out sessions as a leader.
Even when soul jazz experienced a downturn in commercial popularity in the '80s, Sparks stayed relevant with hip-hop artists sampling his work, which now totals more than 150 samples of his "funky chicken scratch."
Sparks' legacy is also heard in contemporary soul/funk bands like The New Mastersounds, Soulive and The Greyboy Allstars, all of whom he guested with several times before his far too early departure.
Every song on Live at Nectar's sounds superb. This is an impeccable live recording that brilliantly captures the master's gorgeous style of playing. His tone is captivating, irresistible, and joyful.
When the horns, organ, bass and drums start getting down—especially on high-energy tunes like "Whip! Whop!" and the cool cover version of "Thank You"—it all comes together. When you listen to Live at Nectar's it transports you to what must have been a magical night.
Good thing they recorded it, and thanks to his proteges for honoring his legacy with this remarkable record.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-at-nectars-melvin-sparks-one-note-records-review-by-joe-gatto.php
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El fabuloso resultado, Live at Nectar's, ya está disponible en el propio sello de The New Mastersounds, One Note Records.
El organista Beau Sasser y el baterista Bill Carbone llevaban varios años trabajando con Sparks y, a pesar de la diferencia de edad -tenían poco más de 30 años, mientras que el guitarrista era un anciano del género-, la unidad estaba muy afilada.
El trío tocaba con regularidad en el club Nectar's de Burlington, VT, pero esta noche presentaba dos variables. Por recomendación del local, utilizaron The Grippo Horns, con Dave Grippo al saxo alto y Brian McCarthy al saxo tenor. Esta fue la única vez que Sparks utilizó una sección de vientos en los últimos años de su vida. Además, la actuación se grabó en un multipistas. Ambas decisiones resultaron ser acertadas.
Mezclado con cariño por el guitarrista, productor y fanático de Sparks, Eddie Roberts, y comisariado para su publicación por el baterista Simon Allen, el álbum demuestra que el guitarrista de 64 años tocaba tan bien en los últimos meses de su vida como en cualquier otro momento.
¡Desde la inicial "Miss Riverside" hasta la emocionante "Whip! Whop!", Sparks salpica su actuación con citas de estándares de jazz, canciones pop y temas de dibujos animados, todo ello entretejido sin esfuerzo en el dialecto bebop-funk que ayudó a crear. Ofrece deliciosas melodías, paciente y metódicamente, a través de su largo liderazgo en "Breezin'", mientras que entrega un trozo de boogaloo al rojo vivo en "Fire Eater".
Sparks se siente muy animado cuando The Grippo Horns le ayudan a interpretar su arreglo de 1973 de "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got)" por primera vez en décadas.
Nacido en Texas, Melvin Sparks fue un guitarrista de R&B al principio de su carrera, respaldando a Jackie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield y Marvin Gaye como miembro de The Upsetters. Dejó su asiento en el autobús de The Upsetters cuando una presentación fortuita de George Benson le inspiró a trasladarse a la ciudad de Nueva York; una decisión que acabaría allanando el camino para su ascenso al panteón del soul jazz.
Sparks llegó a tocar y grabar con Lou Donaldson, Leon Spencer, Bernard Purdie, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Idris Muhammad, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, Grover Washington Jr. y Reuben Wilson, entre otros. También grabó casi una docena de sesiones destacadas como líder.
Incluso cuando el soul jazz experimentó un declive en su popularidad comercial en los años 80, Sparks siguió siendo relevante gracias a que los artistas de hip-hop tomaron muestras de su trabajo, que ahora suman más de 150 muestras de su "funky chicken scratch".
El legado de Sparks también se escucha en grupos contemporáneos de soul/funk como The New Mastersounds, Soulive y The Greyboy Allstars, con los que colaboró en varias ocasiones antes de su prematura partida.
Todas las canciones de Live at Nectar's suenan magníficamente. Se trata de una grabación en directo impecable que capta brillantemente el magnífico estilo de tocar del maestro. Su tono es cautivador, irresistible y alegre.
¡Cuando las trompetas, el órgano, el bajo y la batería empiezan a bajar, especialmente en temas de gran energía como "Whip! Whop!" y la genial versión de "Thank You", todo cobra sentido. Cuando escuchas Live at Nectar's te transporta a lo que debió ser una noche mágica.
Menos mal que lo grabaron, y gracias a sus protegidos por honrar su legado con este notable disco.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-at-nectars-melvin-sparks-one-note-records-review-by-joe-gatto.php
Track Listing
Miss Riverside; Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got); Fire Eater; Cranberry Sunshine; Breezin'; Whip! Whop!; Thank You; Hot Dog
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Dave Grippo
Design – Pete Isaac
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Liner Notes, Drums – Bill Carbone
Organ – Beau Sasser
Producer – Eddie Roberts
Tenor Saxophone – Brian McCarthy
Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: One Note Records
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