Melvin Sparks fri may 6 austin texas

[Soul Stream]

well, leave it up to the indie-rock obsessed Austin Texas music media to TOTALLY freakin' uninform me that goddamn MELVIN SPARKS is/was in town playing tonight. A friend just called to tell me he's playing at the Elephant Room here tonight. I can't make it down and I'm pretty damned bummed.

[JSngry]

well, leave it up to the indie-rock obsessed Dallas Texas music business to TOTALLY freakin' uneffortize to get that goddamn MELVIN SPARKS into town on any night.

[kh1958]

He played at the Sammons in Dallas Thursday night. Unforutnately, I read about it in the paper Friday. Damn and Double Damn.

[JSngry]

I don't know what's worse - that I unfairly castigated the city for not getting him here, or that they GOT him here and didn't tell anybody...

That damn Sammons - every time they present a series of local light-to-middleweights (w/the occasional Marchel/Boykin/etc presentation thrown in for legitimacy), they hype the shit out of it. Last year, they brought Houston Person in, and no hype. This year it's Sparkplug, and again, no hype. It's like they don't want too many people to hear shit that puts their regular blasé fare into its proper perspective.

If I could kill people without actually hurting them, it would be the fuckheads who pull shit like this.

Edited May 7, 2005 by JSngry

[Soul Stream]

And people wonder why jazz has low attendance. Well, it's because no one fucking TELLS us this shit is happening. F'in ridiculous. I'm still pissed. I read the Austin Chronicle front to back yesterday because I was having an MRI done on my knee and it was the only rag (literally) they had lying around to read. Not a damn word in the recommended or anywhere. This town SUCKS.

[jazzbo]

I didn't hear about it either, though even if I had I would have probably not made it as Friday nights are literally the worst night of the week for me to go out (almost always have to work late and then get home to an exhausted wife and by the time dinner is made and consumed toothpicks have to be applied to keep my eyelids open). BUT I would have liked to have had the ability to plan to maybe make it or to choose not to go!

When I first moved her 25 years ago the Armadillo was becoming history and people were walking around saying "this town just isn't what it used to be" as Reaganomically-displaced Northerners were arriving in town and taking all those high paying jobs like working for moving companies and landscaping outfits. I was scratching my head then, but nowdays I sometimes resemble that remark.

[GregN]

THE Melvin Sparks??? He is one of my favorites. Right up there with Grant Green and Cornell Dupree. IMO

Just went to his website, closest he gets to MI is Ohio. Since the war, I hate Ohio.

[Aggie87]

You guys gripe, but publicized or not, at least you have jazz in your cities. I'd love to be able to bitch about missing a show here.

[Jim Alfredson]

Greg, Melvin came to Billy's last year. Randy saw him, said it was funkalicious. I'm sure he'll come aroud again.

[Soul Stream]

You guys gripe, but publicized or not, at least you have jazz in your cities. I'd love to be able to bitch about missing a show here.

Hey, I notice you're an Aggie. Melvin Sparks is playing in Bryan Station tonight...so don't bitch.

[JSngry]

Looks like the Homeboy is makeing the Hometour!

Could you have seen Sparkplug playing A&M as little as 10 years ago? No way.

Aggies are still Aggies, but at least they're becoming....DIVERSE.

Which may prove to be a blessing or a curse. Still workin' on that one...

[bertrand]

My father just moved to Austin. If I ever come out to visit, it sounds like there's some good gigs goin' on. How I will find out about them is another story

Jim, how far from Austin is the place where Quartet Out plays?

Bertrand.

[JSngry]

About 3 hours. A little less if you drive fast.

Edited May 8, 2005 by JSngry

[Soulstation1]

off subject

bwth

fav mel sparks cd?

i just discovering him via e-music

[JSngry]

An early 70s Prestige date, Sparkplug.

Now available as on of those Legends of Acid Jazz things, I'm told.

[Soulstation1]

he's kinda all over those lotaj series cds

i digzzz

Edited May 8, 2005 by Soulstation1

[Big Al]

DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!

Favorite Sparks CD? Tie between his appearance on Reuben Wilson's BLUE MODE and Plas Johnson/Red Holloway's KEEP THAT GROOVE GOIN'!

DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!

[kh1958]

I like his recent Savant recording--It is What it is.

I could not stop listening to to Give Me the Night from this CD--he is on fire on this cut.

Another favorite featuring Sparks (also on Savant)--Charles Earland, Slammin' and Jammin'.

Edited May 8, 2005 by kh1958

[alankin]

He has a new one coming out on June 7th --> This Is It! (Savant)

[robviti]

for anyone in the boston area who might be interested, melvin sparks is scheduled to appear at ryles jazz club in cambridge on saturday, july 9th. tickets are only $10. may the funk be with you.

Edited May 21, 2005 by jazzshrink