Search - Weldon Irvine :: Amadou Project-Price of Freedom

A Tragically Necessary Masterwork

Greg Casseus | NY | 05/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Weldon Irvine, pianist, composer, arranger, poet, lyricist, catalyst: a man of many hats! Having served as Nina Simone's pianist in the late 60s, and co-written "Young, Gifted And Black," and released a string of highly influential jazz-funk-spiritual-fusion masterworks in the 70s, and mentored a whole generation of young, brilliant New York musicians like Marcus Miller, Tom Browne, Bernard Wright, Bobby Broom and Don Blackman, Weldon is a complete musician and also a man concerned with improving our world. Hence, this project inspired by the tragic instances of police brutality in recent times. A rich tapestry of jazz, hip hop, spoken word and r&b featuring distinguished vets like James Mtume and the aforementioned Mr. Blackman, and rap royalty like Q-Tip and Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli). The somber subject matter has inspired a strangely uplifting 24-track groovefest for the mind. This CD is essential! Now if RCA would only reissue Weldon's three fantastic mid-70s albums for them..."