iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

since this is everyone’s (including The NY Times btw) business model now you gotta decide for yourself if biting into the internet catnip of the day clarifies what you want to say online or muddies it (or maybe you want muddy?)

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Plus the day of the pop phenomenon that everyone knows about is dead at least until the next iteration of technology hits & maybe 4ever in this era the only person ALL Americans HAVE to know is the President

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

it’s highly likely that the ACTUAL biggest song in the US is a Spanish-language song English speakers don’t care about or a K-pop song whose total streams on all formats dwarfs Langlay’s + any NYer who tells me they listen to “Choosing Texas” isn’t a real NY’er imo

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

“Deep Canyons on Mars” comes in heavy, with a hugely distorted opening solo…In the song’s closing few minutes, a guitar solo -in truth, I can’t tell if it’s Lamar Smith’s electric guitar or either Gibbs’s or Laswell’s electric bass” BOTH solos are bass solos Opening solo: Me Closing solo: B.Laswell

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

“These are undoubtedly fine books” If they are, then why did you write the rest of this article? the Buzzfeed-ization of The NY Times is kinda sad to see tbh

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

yesterday I found out that one of my old friends from the neighborhood who moved to the DMV a while back is running the Soul Searchers (formerly Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers) now

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Reposted by Melvin Gibbs

Matana Roberts @matanaroberts.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I did a durational endurance sound piece a few years ago where I read all of the foundational documents ( including broken treaties) over an 6 hour period. It was painful, bc even when they wrote these, all of the 'isms you can think of were grossly in attendance...I felt like I was reading fiction.

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I am also going to present “Geechee Reclaimation”. I’ll rework/remix/reconstitute recordings of “Plantation Echoes”, music from Wadmalaw Island in South Carolina that was performed for George Gershwin when he was writing “Porgy and Bess”. My great-grandfather Solomon Gibbs was one of the performers.

the poster for Geechee Reclamation- a project being presented by bassist/composer/author Melvin Gibbs as part of a series of concerts he is curating at Big Ears Festival 2027 in Knoxville, Tennessee

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

One of the things my book does is shine a light on the musical culture of the Gullah-Geechee - the Guardians of the Ring Shout - THE foundational Black American musical creation. So as a curator, I had Big Ears reach out to Ranky Tanky, the Grammy-winning group who have embraced that tradition.

picture of Ranky Tanky, the Grammy-winning musical group steeped in Gullah-Geechee culture that will be appearing at Big Ears Festival 2027 under curation by bassist/composer/author Melvin Gibbs

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I’m curating shows related to my book “How Black Music Took Over The World” at Big Ears Festival 2027 including: Ben Lamar Gay, Moor Mother, Vernon Reid, Darius Jones, Chris Ryan Williams, Luke Stewart, Sheree Renee Thomas, Will Calhoun + For more information visit bigearsfestival.org #BigEarsKnox

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Elohim - the name of G-d translated as “Lord God” in the King James Bible IS in fact Non-Binary

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

haven’t watched it yet I definitely will after reading this

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I was talking with Douglas Ewart about this record yesterday.

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I missed a flight because THEIR error would’ve missed a gig if it wasn’t an off day I bought a seat for my bass - which was exactly the problem They have no people on staff at airports outside of Switzerland - I had call to an agent, then hand my phone to person checking me in at the airport (!)

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Reposted by Melvin Gibbs

Dimitra Rizou @ahoyuniverse.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Solutions to all the world's problems #cartoon

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

random travel note: Swiss Airlines - part of the Lufthansa group- (not Swissair) is by far the worst airline I’ve flown on that is not officially a budget airline Avoid It If At All Possible

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

A video I saw said making a living at music was a 20th c. historical anomaly & musicians should be prepared to go back to patronage & dual careers. Well, not catching polio is also a 20th c. anomaly. Should we prepare to go back to having polio again too? Or should we just stop accepting bs framing?

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

if any of them had Black American friends they would’ve told them when they say “criminal aliens” they’re talking about ALL of y’all You’re NOT gonna get a pass for being “one of the good ones”

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Orange Julius thinking that Ontario is “Canadian” & not a word that came from the original owners of the land is stupid His rebrand of it is a hilarious attempt at Manifest Destiny 2.0

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I don’t understand why people are shocked by his views It’s like being shocked when you find out that your favorite crime or sex-glorifying rapper is Republican & a (not so secret) Trump supporter - did you really not understand what they stood for?

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

my all-time favorite pop science book Thomas Kelleher who edited my book “How Black Music Took Over The World” edited it

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I told y’all that tarp was gonna stay up the day they hung it lol Orange Julius is predictably petty

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

They Got The Point & there was little substantive critique of the book- b/c they couldn't be "expert" on the 15 of its 16 chapters Instead they found/created alleged deficiencies in the one chapter covering ground they consider themselves The Expert on so they could show everyone what They Knew

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

but I've found out that authors pull the literary version of that move on the regular I don't respect it

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I wrote a 5000 word piece on Makaya McCraven a few months ago I make records that utilize software (Ableton Live) & studio technology in combination w live musicians. Bringing that up, comparing my music to his, or critiquing his music in terms of mine in an article about HIM would've been ludicrous

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

those people are looking for a crack, something to critique in other words they are reading in bad faith to put it in BK terms- they are haters I'm finding that vocalized hating is a lot more prevalent in the book world than the music world I guess b/c most authors can't fight or shoot ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

and then there are those who have a (literary) territory to defend they may be plowing the same literary ground as me, they may see themselves as doing so, or they may wish they were

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

people who get the book for free, otoh. I Parse b/c they fall into a couple different catergories Some are reading the book in good faith b/c they are genuinely interested it. Other have a job - they may not be actually interested in reading what I wrote - but are interested in keeping their byline.

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

people who critique my book after buying it have earned my respect & people who (heaven forbid lol) decide not to buy the book after picking it up and doing a quick read-through are engaging in what I consider "good faith critique" I will Never Be Mad at those people

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I assume that people who BUY my book are like me - they're going to read some part/parts of it - enough to give the flavor of the book - first. The main question every book reader asks themselves is: Is this book worth my time?

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I'll say that stating a critique of my book's title is fair IF YOU HONESTLY felt misled. That said, I find the idea that the title means the book should be a history book that prioritzes Black music's interaction w white culture (country music/minstrelsy) INSTEAD of what's actually in it perplexing.

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I've been blessed so far in that I've gotten mostly positive reviews in the "legacy media" orgs that have paid attention to my book The one kind of "eh" one didn't bother me b/c they engaged w what I wrote The "review of the book that I didn't write", otoh, got me so heated that I wrote a rebuttal

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

on that note: I saw Stanley Clarke at The Dakota last night I really enjoyed the show - he had an excellent young band (including Isaiah Collier’s brother on drums) the place was packed but unlike, say , Parliament/ Funkadelic & more like Al’s upcoming tour - the audience was mono-generational

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

honest question: WHO is the audience for this? Al should know that nobody cares that he’s a pioneer & ppl his age w enough money to pay for a concert ticket probably won’t want to yelll “Burned Out” at him he should’ve got some yungsters to remix his old s#it & called it a day

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

every album by Wadada Leo Smith is great - and I happen to be on this one

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Orange Julius make that fake ceasefire announcement yesterday to try to distract everybody from El-Sayed’s win & (as always) the media ran with it unquestioned just once - just once I want to see somebody call him out in real time when he does that

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

this is another one hovering on one hand it should be there on the other it doesn’t feel like a must have s/o to Doug Rauch on bass www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpbm...

youtube.com

The Life Divine

YouTube video by Santana - Topic

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I’m going back & forth about including this but as a Brooklyn native on my generation I kind of feel like I’m required to include the BK spiritual jazz anthem www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC9d...

youtube.com

Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers Ubiquity (1976)

YouTube video by 1mistaGROOVE

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

got asked to contribute a “10 Top Spiritual Jazz songs” list for a book coming out next year I’m including “Expansions” by Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes, “Power” by Earth Wind & Fire & this alongside John, Alice’s& Pharoah youtu.be/mAgsxsMZMlc

youtu.be

Ancestral Ceremony

YouTube video by Release - Topic

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Reposted by Melvin Gibbs

Red Sox @redsox.com · 05/08/2026

Wilyer does it again!

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

next time someone asks me “are you proud to be an American” I’m gonna show them This

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Glorious Chants is one of my Desert Island discs The tracks where the Hindustani singers join her group are literally God Tier (I love Infinite Chants too, but if I can only have one record of Turiyasangitananda’s ashram music- Glorious Chants is the one)

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

the drums can be traced back to their origin in Benin Similar drums, played using a similar technique are used for the Rada rites of Haitian Voodoo

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Melvin Gibbs @melvingibbs.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

that’s stage left (sorry, I’m a musician so that’s just how I see a performance now - from the stage)

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