From: Brian Zuckerberg (brianzuckerberg_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 2004-06-08 22:01:15
IT IS WHAT IT IS on Savant Records
Available in stores Tuesday June 8th and availble now
at
http://www.melvinsparks.com/store.htm
IT IS WHAT IT IS is melvin's second release on the
Highnote/Savant
label. It is his followup to WHAT YOU HEAR IS WHAT YOU
GET.
Players on the record are:
Melvin Sparks-guitar
Eric Kalb-drums
Joe Herbek-alto sax
Cochemea Gastelum-alto sax
Jeremy Baum-ogan
Adam Scone-organ
"Can the guy outdo even himself? He tries. As
evidenced on his latest
record, “It is What It Is,” (Savant Records) Sparks
continues the funk-
jazz sound he created and lays down a funky foundation
of guitar
otherwordly-ness.
Take for instance the track, Clinton Park, where
Sparks and his band
(Herbie J. on Saxophone, Adam Scone on Organ and Eric
Kalb on Drums)
start
out with some funky drums and horns trading riffage
and then weave in
the
organ and guitar to a righteous beat. What Sparks and
his band do best
is
utilize each and every instrument to the fullest on
every track. Where
Clinton Park bounces along, the track Give Me the
Night slinks with
ultracoolness.
There are no superstars or showboaters in this crew,
even in Sparks is
regarded as an amazing anomaly among the slew of
“just” average jazz
guitarists, and they play off each other with respect
and melodious
craftsmanship. If nothing else, the recorded album
provides a primer as
too how cool this band must be live. The extended jams
are too die for
and
the organ has a way of turning loose the other three
players and then
roping them all back in again." ~ Mike Schaefer - The
Stowe Reporter
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