Melvin Gibbs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melvin Gibbs
Gibbs performing in 2014
Background information
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz fusion, alternative metal, funk rock, ambient, hip hop
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, producer
Instruments	Bass guitar
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Livewired Music, Rage

Melvin Gibbs is an American musician famous for his skills on the bass guitar. He is a very versatile artist who has played on almost 200 albums across many different styles of music. You can hear his bass in everything from jazz and funk to rock and hip hop.

Gibbs is known for playing with famous musicians like drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson and guitarist Sonny Sharrock. He was also a key member of the rock group Rollins Band. Today, he is part of a band called Harriet Tubman. In 2017, The New York Times said their performance was one of the best of the year. He is also in a group called Body Meπa, which was praised for making some of the best experimental music in 2024.

Musical Journey

Gibbs performing in Paris, France, in July 1980.

Early Life and First Bands

Melvin Gibbs grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He studied music at Medgar Evers College and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. In the early 1980s, he became known as a member of the band Defunkt. This group was a big part of the music scene in downtown New York City.

During the 1980s, Gibbs was very busy. He played in several groups, including drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson's band, the Decoding Society. He also worked with famous musicians like guitarist Vernon Reid, guitarist Sonny Sharrock, and saxophone player John Zorn. Gibbs was also a founding member of the Black Rock Coalition, an organization created to support and promote Black musicians who play rock music.

The Rollins Band and Producing

In 1993, Gibbs joined the Rollins Band, a popular avant-metal (a type of experimental heavy metal) group. He played with them until 1998 and then again for a short time in 2006. Being in the Rollins Band was a big deal. He performed at the famous Woodstock '94 music festival and was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 1995.

While in the Rollins Band, Gibbs also started working as a record producer. This means he helped other artists create and record their albums. He produced records for a company called Rage Records.

Collaborations and Other Projects

Gibbs has worked with an amazing variety of artists from all over the world. He has recorded with the hip-hop group Dead Prez, Brazilian singers Caetano Veloso and Marisa Monte, and Nigerian musician Femi Kuti. Guitarist Arto Lindsay once called Gibbs his "closest collaborator."

In 1998, Gibbs formed a trio called Harriet Tubman with guitarist Brandon Ross and drummer J.T. Lewis. The band is named after the famous American abolitionist and is known for its powerful and creative music.

Over the years, Gibbs has started many other musical groups, including:

• Melvin Gibbs' Elevated Entity, which released an album in 2009.
• SociaLybrium, a group with Bernie Worrell from the famous band Parliament-Funkadelic.
• Zig Zag Power Trio, with Vernon Reid and Will Calhoun from the band Living Colour.
• God Particle, a unique group that includes scientist and saxophone player Stephon Alexander.

Selected Discography

Here are some of the important albums Melvin Gibbs has played on during his long career.

As a Leader or Co-Leader

• Strange Meeting (1987) - with the group Power Tools
• I Am a Man (1998) - with his band Harriet Tubman
• Ancients Speak (2009) - as Melvin Gibbs' Elevated Entity
• Ascension (2011) - with Harriet Tubman
• The Terror End of Beauty (2018) - with Harriet Tubman
• The Work Is Slow (2021) - with the group Body Meπa

With Other Artists

• Defunkt (1980) - with Defunkt
• The Big Gundown (1986) - with John Zorn
• Seize the Rainbow (1987) - with Sonny Sharrock
• Weight (1994) - with Rollins Band
• Come In and Burn (1997) - with Rollins Band
• Project Logic (1999) - with DJ Logic
• Let's Get Free (2000) - with Dead Prez
• Salt (2004) - with Arto Lindsay
• Cuidado Madame (2017) - with Arto Lindsay
• Marching Music (2020) - with Dave Douglas