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Sparks
Sparks are an American rock and pop music band formed in Los Angeles in 1972 by brothers Ron Mael (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to song writing, Sparks' music is often accompanied by cutting and acerbic lyrics, and an idiosyncratic stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive front man antics and Ron's sedentary scowling. The band's long career has seen them successfully adopt many different musical genres; including glam pop, power pop, electronic dance music and mainstream pop. Despite these many styles, a recognizable "Sparks sound" remains throughout, and they have enjoyed a large cult following since their first releases.
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Melvin Sparks: Sparks!
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
In the late 1960s and early '70s, Prestige assembled a studio band that specialized in a new form of soul-jazz dominated by organ and horns. To keep everyone in the ensemble happy and to meet the label's production quotas, individual musicians in the band took turns as session leaders. The need for an efficient and prolific house band was two-fold: the surge in affordable component stereo systems from Japan and the rise of FM radio in African-American communities. In short, ...
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Melvin Sparks: Live at Nectar's
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Just three months before guitarist Melvin Sparks died on March 15, 2011 at age 64, he recorded at a club in Burlington, Vt., called Nectar's, a club that's still there today (go here). Sparks was backed by members of his working trio—organist Beau Sasser and drummer Bill Carbone. But on this night, he added alto saxophonist Dave Grippo and tenor saxophonist Brian McCarthy. It had been several years since Sparks last used horns. Now this live date has been released ...
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Sparks & Shadows To Release The C.O.W.L. Sessions Featuring Original Music Composed By Joe Clark
Source:
CineMedia Promotions
“American history gets overhauled in C.O.W.L., a new series about the superhero labor union of 1960s Chicago that’s been described as Mad Men meets Avengers.” – The Hollywood Reporter Culver City, CA: Sparks & Shadows announces the release of The C.O.W.L. Sessions soundtrack digitally on October 28, 2014. The C.O.W.L. Sessions is the audio companion to the first five issues of the hit comic book series C.O.W.L., created by Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel, with art by Rod Reis (who ...
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Melvin Sparks - R.I.P.
Source:
Sound Insights by Doug Payne
Guitarist Melvin Sparks, a soul-jazz legend and acid-jazz pioneer, died yesterday at his Mt. Vernon, New York, home from heart failure. He would have turned 65 next week. Reports indicate he died from complications associated with diabetes. Sparks made his name in the late '60s and early '70s as a soulful guitarist—or “gittar" player, as he called himself—accompanying Jack McDuff, Lonnie Smith, Lou Donaldson, Charles Earland, Jimmy McGriff and countless other soul-jazz stars. “But for the last two decades," wrote ...
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R.I.P. Melvin Sparks
Source:
JamBase
ACID JAZZ GREAT PASSES AWAY AT 64 Legendary Soul/Jazz/Funk guitarist Melvin Sparks died yesterday due to complications from diabetes. He was 64 years old. Sparks was noted for his pioneering Acid Jazz guitar style in the 60s and 70s, influencing generations of musicians in his wake, including Galactic, The Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Derek Trucks, Robert Randolph, Eric Krasno and more. In addition to his groundbreaking work as a bandleader, Melvin was a prolific session player for labels ...
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Melvin Sparks (1946-2011)
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Melvin Sparks, a much-in-demand soul-jazz guitarist who recorded with virtually all of the great organists of the late '60s and '70s and pioneered a sound that borrowed from Grant Green and Sly Stone, died on March 13 . He was 64. Sparks was at his best playing a muscular, groovy rhythm guitar behind organists like Leon Spencer and Charles Earland, breaking out occasionally with a melodic, groovy solo. He was a mainstay at Prestige during the '70s, where he was ...
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Bess Rogers EP Sparks Broad-Ranging Media Interest, Major Tour This Fall
Source:
Seth Cohen PR
National, Regional and Web Media Embracing Pop/Punk/Folk Sound of Bess Rogers Major U.S. Tour Set for Fall Interest is building, as national, regional and web-based outlets including PASTE, PAPER MAGAZINE, WGN-TV/CW NETWORK, FOX-TV, AOL Music, Medleyville, Asbury Park Press, Melodic, Wildy'sWorld, Indie Sounds, Creative Loafing and others have checked out 'Bess Rogers Presents Bess Rogers,' and they like what they've heard. The September 21st EP is a tour de force, introducing Rogers' distinctive pop/punk/folk style to a mainstream audience--Listeners will ...
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'Cove' Release Sparks Ire in Japan
Source:
All About Jazz
Oscar-winning doc “The Cove," which depicts the annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan, is now set for a June 26 Japanese bow on 27 screens -- but the road to release has been rocky and the troubles may not yet be over.
“The Cove's" helmer Louie Psihoyos and his staff encountered fierce opposition from the locals when filming, forcing them to shoot not only underwater but also undercover. That opposition from various sources has continued since Tokyo-based Medallion Media acquired ...
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Summerfold Records Announces the Release of Pete Lockett's Network of Sparks with Free Download at All About Jazz
Source:
Lori Hehr Public Relations
Summerfold Records announces the release of One by Pete Lockett's Network of Sparks featuring Bill Bruford with a free download on All About Jazz. The track “Prism" is available here. Pete Lockett is one of the world's leading multi-percussionists. An authority on Indian percussion and an expert on tablas, kanjira, and bongos, he has played and recorded with countless artists including Bjrk, Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Jeff Beck, David Torn, Vikku Vinayakram, Selva Ganesh, Ustad Zakir Hussain, The Verve, Steve ...
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Charlie Apicella & Iron City Release New Album Sparks in March 2010
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
New York, New York -- After the success of the 2009 release Put The Flavor On It you would think guitarist and band leader Charlie Apicella would be hard pressed to duplicate such an outstanding recording. With Sparks due to drop in March, listeners and critics alike will be heaping the praise upon the Iron City ensemble as if they were the second coming of the great funky organ bands such as Booker T. and the MGs This is a ...
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Sparks
