Live Review
Melvin Sparks Band
The Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
October 23, 2004
by Dave "Doc" Piltz
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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On Saturday evening, October 23rd, my wife and I spent a fine evening at The Dakota in downtown Minneapolis, for a relaxing dinner and some fine entertainment by Texas-born acid jazz guitarist, Melvin Sparks. Described as the “best Texas-born guitar player that you never heard of” by Dave Ferman of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Houston born guitarist has worked with a veritable Who’s Who of jazz, including Indiris Mohammed, David “Fathead” Newman, and Sweet Lou Donaldson, among others. Sparks has developed a talent for mixing elements of blues, jazz, soul and funk into his repertoire, demonstrating the influences of other Texas guitar greats like T-Bone Walker and Johnny Clyde Copeland into his style. Having never had the opportunity to see either of these fine guitarists perform live, I was looking forward to seeing one so influenced by these two gentlemen.
Backed by a rhythm section that included Justin Tomsovic on drums and Paul Wilstonkoff on organ, Sparks got the set off to a great start with his fingers flying across the keyboards on the opening number. With each successive number, Sparks’ guitar work seemed to get cleaner and faster, playing songs that included snippets of familiar songs that included “On Broadway,” “Misty” and even the theme song from The Flintstones. At various times during the show, the influences of Copeland and Walker were very apparent in his playing. However, the combination of Sparks’ fingers blazing up and down the fingerboard and the animated solos by organist Paul Wilstonkoff, made the performance unique and moving in its presentation.
My first opportunity to see Melvin Sparks perform live was everything I had expected it to be and even more. This pioneer of acid jazz and hidden legend gave a fine performance for a packed house at The Dakota. To find out more about Melvin Sparks, his music and his upcoming performance schedule, visit his website at www.melvinsparks.com.
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