Funk/rock/jazz bassist Melvin Gibbs has worked with an array of notable musicians, including Femi Kuti, Vernon Reid, John Zorn, Jeff Parker, John Medeski, Bill Frisell, the Rollins Band, and more.  His work as a musician and producer has been as varied as the aforementioned artists and has included splashes into hip hop with DJ Logic and Dead Prez.

In this venture as bandleader, Gibbs expands his palette further with Ancients Speak, incorporating tastes of Brazilian hip hop and African Yoruba culture.  With Gibbs’ vision and a lengthy list of collaborators, this album honors no musical demarcations, fusing the above genres with psychedelic jam rock and Afrobeat grooves.

Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Entity: “Ancients Speak”

By: Scott Morrow