Melvin Gibbs

Melvin Gibbs is a Grammy-nominated composer, musician, artist, and writer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Widely recognized for his groundbreaking work across jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, and experimental music, Gibbs has been called “the greatest bassist in the world” by Time Out New York magazine. In 2019, he won the JazzTimes Critics Poll in the category of Electric Bass.

Throughout his career, Gibbs has collaborated with some of the most influential artists in contemporary music while continually pushing the boundaries of sound, rhythm, and improvisation. His work explores the deep cultural and historical roots of Black music and its global influence.

His book, How Black Music Took Over the World, was published by Basic Books on April 14, 2026. Blending music history, cultural analysis, personal experience, and rhythmic theory, the book examines how the musical traditions of the African diaspora transformed global culture and became the foundation of modern popular music.