Toshio Matsuura | Weldon Irvine: An Artist Who Leaves a Lasting Impression

Toshio Matsuura | From TOKYO MOON January 13 Broadcast

Weldon Irvine: An Artist Who Lingers in Memory

Sunday nights, a leisurely flow of time with exquisite music—this is the ultimate bliss for adults. Enhancing such moments is DJ Toshio Matsuura's radio program, 'TOKYO MOON'.—Each Sunday, from 24:00, Inter FM 76.1MHz broadcasts his carefully selected global music and intellectually stimulating topics for adults. Here, we revisit the program that just aired. This week, we focus on Weldon Irvine, the composer and pianist who was active primarily in the 1970s.

Text by MATSUURA Toshio

A Crossover Sound That Foreshadowed Today's Music Scene

Weldon Irvine, one of the artists who gained sudden prominence in the late 1980s and 90s. During the rare groove movement that swept through the club scene, his 70s works were re-evaluated by many music lovers across soul, jazz, and hip-hop, bringing him into the spotlight.

Spiritual and soulful. A crossover sound that was pop yet possessed a strong character, in a way foreshadowing today's music scene. Conversely, his musicality was multifaceted and chaotic, difficult to describe in a single word. Yet, even now, a decade after his shocking suicide, the music he left behind remains vividly in our memories.

A man of diverse talents—pianist, composer, playwright, and social activist—he blossomed musically in the late 60s as a band member and musical director for jazz singer Nina Simone. He released two albums on his own label, one on the seminal spiritual jazz label Strata East, and then three fan-favorite albums, 'Cosmic Vortex,' 'Spirit Man,' and 'Sinbad,' on a major label.

Now, shortly after those three major label releases, the master tapes for his musical "Young, Gifted And Broke"—for which he utilized his literary talents, honed during his university studies, to write the original story, script, and music, and even performed in it—have been discovered, leading to the release of this new work in Japan, 35 years later.

Weldon Irvine

The release features a mellow jazz-funk number introduced on the program, "Only Yesterday," along with soul with beautiful chorus harmonies and groovy funk, all included in abundance. The packaging is superb, featuring a documentary DVD with precious footage and a booklet filled with explanations and materials for both beginners and his fans.

This is a work that I highly recommend.

(Footage is a portion of the same content included in the documentary DVD)

Darkstar "News from Nowhere"

REVIEW | TRACK LIST

01. Darkstar / Young Heart's (Warp / Beat)
02. Sam Sanders / Loser (180 proof / BBQ)
03. Weldon Irvine / Only Yesterday (Shout Productions)
04. Jamie Lidell / Don't You Love Me (Warp / Beat)
05. Lucas Arruda / Sambadi - Patchworks Remix (Favorite)
06. Gabriele Poso / A Night with You - Yoruba House mix (INFRACom!)
07. LaRom Baker / You’re the Best - Tom Noble Disco Edit (Jazzman)
08. Weldon Irvine / I Love You (RCA Victor)

Sam Sanders "Mirror, Mirror"

Weldon Irvine
"Young, Gifted And Broke"

Jamie Lidell "Jamie Lidell"

Lucas Arruda "Sambadi 7"

Gabriele Poso
"Roots of Soul Remix EP"

V.A. "Soul Spectrum 1"

Weldon Irvine "Sinbad"

Toshio Matsuura "TOKYO MOON"

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