Biography by Alex Henderson
Although not a huge name in jazz, Melvin Sparks brought his Grant Green-influenced guitar to quite a few soul-jazz and organ combo recordings of the late '60s and early '70s. A lover of jazz as well as R&B and blues, the Houston native took up the guitar at 11, and was only 13 when he sat in with B.B. King. In 1963 he joined the Upsetters, an R&B show band that backed Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and other big names. After leaving the Upsetters, Sparks played with Jack McDuff in 1966-1967. The improviser was very much in demand in the late '60s and early '70s, and he was featured on sessions by Charles Earland, Sonny Stitt, Lou Donaldson, Rusty Bryant, Sonny Phillips, Reuben Wilson, and Johnny "Hammond" Smith, among others. Sparks delivered his first album as leader, Sparks!, for Prestige in 1970, and recorded a few more Prestige dates before providing Melvin Sparks for Westbound in 1975.
I'm a Gittar Player
When soul-jazz's fortunes declined in the mid-'70s, the guitarist wasn't working as much. The only album Sparks recorded as a leader in the '80s was 1981's Sparkling on Muse, although he was featured as a sideman on sessions by Houston Person, Hank Crawford, and Jimmy McGriff during that decade. The 1990s saw a lot of renewed interest in soul-jazz, and in 1997 Sparks returned to the studio for his Cannonball date I'm a Gittar Player. Although he continued to perform, Sparks did not return as a leader until 2002's What You Hear Is What You Get. He then followed up with 2004's It Is What It Is, 2005's This Is It!, and 2006's Groove on Up, all on Savant Records. Sparks died on March 15, 2011 at his home in Mt. Vernon, New York, of complications from diabetes and ultimately heart failure. He was 64 years old.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/melvin-sparks-mn0000414611/biography
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Biografía de Alex Henderson
Aunque no es un gran nombre en el jazz, Melvin Sparks llevó su guitarra con influencia de Grant Green a bastantes grabaciones compuestas de soul-jazz y órgano de finales de los 60 y principios de los 70. Amante del jazz, así como del R&B y el blues, el nativo de Houston tomó la guitarra a los 11 años, y sólo tenía 13 cuando se sentó con B.B. King. En 1963 se unió a los Upsetters, una banda de R&B que apoyaba a Little Richard, Sam Cooke y otros grandes nombres. Tras dejar a los Upsetters, Sparks tocó con Jack McDuff en 1966-1967. El improvisador fue muy solicitado a finales de los 60 y principios de los 70, y apareció en sesiones de Charles Earland, Sonny Stitt, Lou Donaldson, Rusty Bryant, Sonny Phillips, Reuben Wilson y Johnny "Hammond" Smith, entre otros. Sparks entregó su primer álbum como líder, Sparks!, para Prestige en 1970, y grabó unas cuantas fechas más de Prestige antes de proporcionar a Melvin Sparks para Westbound en 1975.
Soy un Gittar Player
Cuando la fortuna del soul-jazz declinó a mediados de los 70, el guitarrista no trabajaba tanto. El único álbum que Sparks grabó como líder en los 80 fue Sparkling on Muse de 1981, aunque en esa década apareció como sideman en sesiones de Houston Person, Hank Crawford y Jimmy McGriff. En los 90 se renovó el interés por el soul-jazz, y en 1997 Sparks volvió al estudio para su cita en Cannonball I'm a Gittar Player. Aunque continuó actuando, Sparks no volvió como líder hasta el 2002 en "What You Hear Is What You Get". Luego siguió con 2004 It Is What It Is, 2005 This Is It!, y 2006 Groove on Up, todos en Savant Records. Sparks murió el 15 de marzo de 2011 en su casa de Mt. Vernon, Nueva York, por complicaciones de la diabetes y, finalmente, por un fallo cardíaco. Tenía 64 años.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/melvin-sparks-mn0000414611/biography
1 - MyKia's Dance - 4:59
2 - Cranberry Sunshine - 5:14
3 - Groove On Up - 4:27
4 - Hump - 5:40
5 - Ooh Girl - 4:21
6 - I Want To Say Thanks - 3:40
7 - She's A Bad Mama Jama - 5:24
8 - Onion Patch - 4:55
9 - If It Don't Fit (Don't Force It) - 4:50
10 - U Got Mel - 4:06
Credits:
Design – Brad Wrolstad
Drums – Eric Bolivar (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9), Eric Kalb (tracks: 3, 5, 6), Jun Saito (3) (tracks: 8)
Engineer – Tom Tedesco
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Liner Notes – Joe Fields, Melvin Sparks
Organ [Hammond], Keyboards [Keyboard Bass] – Jerry Z* (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7 to 10), Paul Wolstencroft (tracks: 3, 5, 6)
Photography By – Gene Martin (3)
Producer – Melvin Sparks-Hassan*
Tabla – Tom E. Ted (tracks: 2)
Vocals – Nikki Armstrong (tracks: 9), Oscar Wright (3) (tracks: 5)
Notes
Recorded December, 2005
Label: Savant – SCD 2070
Released: 2006
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style: Soul-Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Jazz-Funk
https://www.discogs.com/Melvin-Sparks-Groove-On-Up/release/3076557
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