Search - Melvin Sparks :: It Is What It Is

You could go crazy listening to this music . . .

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 06/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . which is probably why I resisted it for so long. Then again, with its best practitioners--and Melvin Sparks ranks among the very best--there's a kinda weird mojo-thang happening that just can't be denied.Soul-jazz, that what we be talkin'. Guitar, organ, sax, drums. The classsic format.When it works, it do sompin, in a visceral, no-brainer kinda way, to yo' body. When it don't, it be like when you buy bacon on what you see in the package window--but they faked you out, man, with a 75% fatty cut for the majority of the package, and it just so greasy that your microwave's slimy when you done zappin' it, and you got flavorful but cholesteral-cloggin' hell awaiting you on your plate. Know what I mean?Well, Melvin Sparks--yeah, he be greasy, but he got the meat to back it up. Chops-heavy, rock-your-socks-off, visceral-to-the-max soul-jazz. Git-you-off-you-butt, mojo-magic, that's what he dealin'.Dig.If you caint, you be dead."

Awesome

Jan P. Dennis | 03/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"He may not be as intellectual as, say, Grant Green, but he's undeniably cool.It features originals and some "sparked" renditions of pop songs. I'd give it 4.5 songs, but i can't so ill just give 5. BUY IT NOW!!!!! THIS IS SOME OF THE MORE GROUNDBREAKING JAZZ EVER RECORDED!!!!

P.S. I am just using the kids review format because I'm a lazy bum."