Search results: Tidal waves music

Review: Listen up, wise up, Sparks up: Melvin's fourth album, 1973-released Texas Twister, enjoys its first ever European reissue with this limited RSD special. Capturing Sparks' ever expanding palette that broadened throughout the 70s to encompass everything from rhythm & blues to soul boogie to raw, frazzled funk, this album is a great crossroads of his styles. Ranging from the dizzying funk of opener "Whip! Whip!" to the freeform fast-lane jazz guitar solos of the finale "Star In The Crescent" by way of the super polished soul jazz of "Ain't No Woman", it's a generous spread that connects all the best soul dots and reminds us why he was already playing with BB King by age 13.

Review: Hard bop, blues, funk and jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks was not lying when he decided upon the title for this, his 1976 classic album recorded with some of the finest session musicians in Detroit. Along the way, the band all jump between soul-jazz, proto-boogie, disco and funk with rare skill. There are some floor lady cuts that will bring down the roof, as well as more beautiful and mellow moments powered by some smooth synths. The record came on CD in 2017 but only now finally makes its way to wax.