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 bass guitarist. He has played on almost 200 albums, covering many different music styles. Gibbs is famous for his work in jazz with drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson and guitarist Sonny Sharrock. He is also known for his rock music with the Rollins Band and Arto Lindsay.

Music Journey

Gibbs playing in Paris, France, in 1980

Melvin Gibbs grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He studied music at Medgar Evers College and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

Early Bands

Gibbs first became well-known as a member of the band Defunkt in the early 1980s. This band was very popular in New York City's music scene. Throughout the 1980s, he played with drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society. He also played with guitarist Sonny Sharrock and saxophonist John Zorn. With Jackson and guitarist Bill Frisell, he was part of a group called Power Tools. Gibbs also helped lead the band Eye and I. He was one of the first members of the Black Rock Coalition, an organization that supports Black musicians.

Producing Music

In the 1990s, Gibbs started working as a record producer. This means he helped other artists make their albums. He produced records for other musicians on Rage Records.

Rollins Band and Other Collaborations

Melvin Gibbs was a member of the avant-metal band Rollins Band from 1993 to 1998. He joined them again briefly in 2006. With the Rollins Band, he performed at the famous Woodstock '94 music festival in 1994. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1995.

Gibbs has recorded with many other artists. These include hip-hop artist Dead Prez, Brazilian musicians Caetano Veloso and Marisa Monte, and Latin jazz musician Eddie Palmieri. He has also worked with Nigerian musician Femi Kuti and guitarist Marc Ribot. He produced albums for guitarist Arto Lindsay and DJ DJ Logic.

New Projects

In 1998, Gibbs, guitarist Brandon Ross, and drummer J.T. Lewis formed a trio called Harriet Tubman. This band still performs and records music today.

In 2009, Melvin Gibbs' band, Elevated Entity, released their first album called Ancients Speak. Also in 2009, he joined a group called SociaLybrium. This group included Bernie Worrell from Parliament-Funkadelic. Their album, For You/For Us/For All, came out in December 2009.

Gibbs has many other music projects. These include Melvin Runs the Hoodoo Down, the Geechee Seminoles, and Zig Zag Power Trio. He is also part of God Particle with cosmologist and saxophonist Stephon Alexander.

Music Albums

Melvin Gibbs has released many albums both as a leader and with different bands. Here are some of his notable works:

As a Leader or Co-Leader

• 2009 Ancients Speak, with Melvin Gibbs' Elevated Entity
• 2018 Zig Zag Power Trio with Vernon Reid and Will Calhoun
• 2022 Anamibia Sessions Vol. 1: The Wave

With Defunkt

• 1980 Defunkt
• 1994 Live & Reunified

With Rollins Band

• 1994 Weight
• 1997 Come In and Burn

With Harriet Tubman

• 1998 I Am a Man
• 2011 Ascension
• 2017 Araminta

Other Bands

• 1987 Strange Meeting, with Power Tools
• 2010 For You – For Us – For All, with Socialybrium

As a Sideman (Playing with Others)

Melvin Gibbs has played bass on albums for many other artists. Some of these include:

• Jean-Paul Bourelly
• DJ Logic
• Ronald Shannon Jackson
• Arto Lindsay
• Marisa Monte
• Sonny Sharrock
• Moreno Veloso
• Vitamin C
• John Zorn
• Eddie Palmieri
• Marc Ribot
• Dead Prez