Weldon Irvine - Liberated Brother LP (Pure Pleasure 180g Limited Edition)

180-gram vinyl

Remastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London

"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 such as '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." — AllMusic