I bought this on the strength of the Dodge Remixes, Dodge City Productions rule. I also love Carla Cook's vocals. All in all, a nice bit of contemporary Acid Jazz. Now for the boring stuff.
Master Wel is an alias for the late Weldon Irvine (27/10/43 - 9/4/02) Known in Jazz and poetry circles simply as Weldon and within the world of Hip Hop as Master Wel, Irvine's skills as a musician and lyricist are well documented. With well over 500 compositions to his credit, he was the producer, arranger and conductor for many concerts, festival presentations, and staged musicals. He has worked with such Jazz notables as Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Stanley Turrentine, Bill Jacobs, with Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway, as well as with poets Louis Reyes Rivera, George Edward Tait, Rich Bartee and the Griot Trio, and with such Rappers and Spoken Word Artists as KRS-One, Grand Master Flash, Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, Ice Cube & Black Star, to name just a few.
As he became involved with Hip Hop, many of the rappers, including Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Q-Tip, sought him out as teacher and mentor. Irvine championed hip-hop from the beginning. He compares groundbreaking MC's such as Rakim to jazz titans like Charlie Parker.
Master Wel is an alias for the late Weldon Irvine (27/10/43 - 9/4/02) Known in Jazz and poetry circles simply as Weldon and within the world of Hip Hop as Master Wel, Irvine's skills as a musician and lyricist are well documented. With well over 500 compositions to his credit, he was the producer, arranger and conductor for many concerts, festival presentations, and staged musicals. He has worked with such Jazz notables as Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Stanley Turrentine, Bill Jacobs, with Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway, as well as with poets Louis Reyes Rivera, George Edward Tait, Rich Bartee and the Griot Trio, and with such Rappers and Spoken Word Artists as KRS-One, Grand Master Flash, Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, Ice Cube & Black Star, to name just a few.
As he became involved with Hip Hop, many of the rappers, including Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Q-Tip, sought him out as teacher and mentor. Irvine championed hip-hop from the beginning. He compares groundbreaking MC's such as Rakim to jazz titans like Charlie Parker.
"I've always been a big fan, just like any kid with gold teeth and pants hanging off his behind," he says. "The beats that these guys were producing blew my mind.... I've always accepted it as music."Irvine was so inspired that he began rhyming himself. Using the name Master Wel, a reference to his aristocratic upbringing, he released 1997's Spoken Melodies (featuring Saul Williams and others) and 1999's The Price of Freedom featuring cameos by Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Q-Tip. Irvine honed his skills by hanging out with rappers half his age. He vividly remembered signing up for open mic nights and talent shows. Within earshot, people snickered, "Hey, grandpa's gonna rap." He persevered...
"I see the reaction of real hip-hop heads when they see me pick up the mic and start to rhyme. They're shocked that I'm doing it, but when they start bopping and responding to my call and response, that tells me I have the capabilities."He gave piano lessons to Q-Tip and Common. "As these hip-hoppers get more proficient with jazz.... they are going to blow a lot of people's minds." he said. They'll be following in Irvine's footsteps.
"I often just sit and listen to him because he teaches truth. He's my mentor."
Q-Tip
"When I grow up, I want to be like Weldon."
Mos Def
- Soul Inside Mix
- Soul Walk Mix
- Single Version
- Soul Inside Instrumental
- Soul Walk Instrumental
- Jazz Mix
Filename: Master Wel.rar Filesize: 58.81 MB
Almost impossible to read, it says:
Track 1 contains portions of 'We Getting Down' and 'Walk The Walk' by Weldon Irvine. Lead vocal: Carla Cook. Backing Vocal: Hilda Aja Richbow & Walter Mason. Sax Solo: Roger Byam. Drum track: Harold 'Doo' West & Weldon Irvine. All other instruments by Weldon Irvine. Recorded and mixed at: Lis Rascals Studio. Tracks 1 & 2 Additional Production and Remix by: Dodge for Soul Inside Productions. Additional Keys: Rico 'Sick Note' Ellis. Mix Engineer: Paul Motion. Track 1 Bass: John Thompson.
