Weldon Irvine Liberated Brother

180g High Quality Pressing!
Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering!
Pianist Weldon Irvine is joined by bassist Roland Wilson, guitarist Tommy Smith, along with Preston Williams, James Stroud, Chipper Lyles and Napoleon Revels for this debut as a leader.
Weldon Irvine's debut as a leader is and remains one of the most idiosyncratic excursions into electro jazz of the early 70s. Innovative not only because of its atmospheric, nuanced jazz-funk orientation, "Liberated Brother" also transports Irvine's unusually strong passion, with which he represents his political and philosophical views, in its grooves, thus creating music of rare sincerity and ambition.
While in the first half of the record longer, more meditative songs such as the Latin American-inspired title track and "Blues Wel-Don" can be heard, the second page of "Liberated Brother" attracts the most attention. With brilliant contributions from guitarist Tommy Smith, bassist Roland Wilson and drummer Napoleon Revels-Bey, cuts like "Mr. Clean" and "Sister Sanctified" (later sampled by Boogie Down Productions for the rap classic "My Philosophy") convince with a deeply funky consciousness formed from elements of jazz, soul and psychedelia; "Juggah Buggah" even introduces Irvine on the Moog synthesizer, further expanding the LP's cosmopolitan reach.
"Weldon Irvine's debut as a leader remains one of the most fiercely idiosyncratic electric jazz outings of the early '70s. Innovative not only for its moody, nuanced jazz-funk sensibility, Liberated Brother also translates the uncommonly strong passion of Irvine's political and philosophical views into its grooves, creating music of rare sincerity and ambition. While the record's first-half features longer, more meditative songs, like the Latin-inspired title tune and "Blues Wel-Don," the second side of Liberated Brother commands the most attention. With sterling contributions from guitarist Tommy Smith, bassist Roland Wilson, and drummer Napoleon Revels-Bey, cuts like "Mr. Clean" and "Sister Sanctified" (later sampled by Boogie Down Productions for the rap classic "My Philosophy") achieve a deeply funky consciousness forged from elements of jazz, soul, and psychedelia; "Juggah Buggah" even features Irvine on Moog synthesizer, further expanding the LP's cosmic reach." - Jason Ankeny/AMG

Features:

• 180g Vinyl
• Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
• Made in the UK

Musicians:

• Weldon Irvine, piano, electric piano [RMI] Synthesizer [Moog] (tracks: B4, B5), Melodica
• Roland Wilson, electric Bass [Fender]
• Tommy Smith, electric Guitar
• Preston Williams, flugelhorn
• James Stroud (2), Tenor Saxophone
• Chipper Lyles, drums, percussion (B1)
• Napoleon Revels, drums, percussion (B1)

Selections:

Side A
1. Liberated Brother
2. Here’s Where I Came In
3. Blues Wel-Don
Side B
1. Mr.Clean
2. Gloria
3. Homey
4. Juggah Buggah
5. Sister Sanctified

Recorded and re-mixed at Sound Ideas Studio, New York, N.Y.