Bill

Not much is actually known for certain about Sax player Bill Sparks but careful research obtained from the Slinky Thing website indicates that Bill Sparks is not his real name. “Slinky Thing“, a Steely Dan tribute band claims that he is a member of their group but when questioned, his reputed band mates seemed to respond by saying “Who?” or “I’m not exactly certain that I am cleared to talk about that.”

Information about Bill’s early career begins with an unmentioned maritime organization, suggesting travels abroad, gigs locally in the Islands off San Francisco and his initial music education somewhere East of California, commencing only after repeated attempts at entry; playing his Sax outside the gates of the institution for years until they relented and let him in only on the condition of his semi-voluntary servitude playing in a band touring South East Asia or some other exotic locale such as Washington D.C. upon his completion of studies.

When the bassist for Groove Alchemy attempted to find out information about his association in other musical organizations from several members of his third band “Bay Bridge Beats“; a band that plays exclusively at an un-named Western bar East of Berkeley, the band’s musicians universally answered with the question: “He plays in other bands?” Having witnessed that band, this writer can attest that he does play with them, at least, and that their deep playbook of tunes crosses the boundaries of Funk, Rock, Ska and R&B with perhaps a Polka or two on someone’s birthday and also that the B3 horn section is renowned far and wide throughout Lafayette.

The important thing we do know is that Bill has played in Groove Alchemy (and Gozstnotes, the previous incarnation of the same band) for the last two years and his deep knowledge of music styles, melodic lines and comping as well as his improvised excursions weaving in and out of the bands compositions and covers seem to delight audiences and his fellow band mates alike. He appears to have mysteriously taken up residence a few houses down from the facility where Groove Alchemy rehearses, in a dark house overgrown with a cultivated jungle and a wrecked bicycle on the roof, only answering the door when the green “Receiving” light is lit as he is normally deeply into practice and may not be disturbed. He is a deep fan of Frank Zappa and when our band suggested adding some Mothers of Invention compositions to our setlist the normally quiet horn man chimed in with “Now we’re talking!” He lives quietly with his cats, his wife (who apparently shares the same last name), a few kids and several musical instruments and bicycles.