CDs by Weldon Irvine

Liberated Brother / Sinbad  /  Spirit Man  /  Time Capsule / Cosmic Vortex  /   Keyboards Wild DJs Smile  

Time Capsule / Music Is the Key  /  The Price of Freedom

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Contact: Colette Pean
Sistas' Place
456 Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11216
(718) 398 1766

 Debut: Weldon Irvine Documentary

Sistas' Place 

 456 Nostrand Ave

hosts a special preview of a documentary,

"The Edification of Weldon Irvine" 

(NYU Graduate Institute of Motion Picture and Television Production), 

 Friday, May 7, beginning at 7pm.

Known in Jazz and poetry circles simply as Weldon and within the world of Hip Hop as Master Wel, Weldon Irvine's skills as a musician and lyricist throughout his career were well demonstrated in just about every genre of African American music. 

With over 500 compositions to his credit, he produced, arranged and conducted countless numbers of concerts and staged musicals that focused on each of those genres: Gospel, Rhythm and Blues, Be Bop, Hard Bop, Fusion, Funk, Free Jazz and Hip Hop. He has worked with such artists as Miles Davis, Stanley Turrentine, Bill Jacobs, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Louis Reyes Rivera, George Edward Tait, Rich Bartee, KRS-One, Grand Master Flash, Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, Ice Cube, Black Star, Tree, Rah Goddess, and Mums the Schemer, to name just a few.

The Edification of Weldon Irvine is an hour-long 16mm film profile of the jazz musician and playwright. Produced, written, directed and edited by Collis Davis, this documentary takes the audience through  Weldon's early years from the late-1970s back to his childhood days in Virginia.

With this first public screening in the United States, the film portrays the struggle of a multi-talented African-American artist who attempts to attain peace of mind amidst a troubled family background, a turbulent adolescence, and a mercurial professional career with RCA Records. 

A childhood playmate of Mr. Davis, Weldon talks about growing up in Hampton, Virginia, his fascination with weapons, his several mentors (including songstress Nina Simone, for whom he served as musical director and wrote the lyrics of the song, "To Be Young, Gifted and Black"), his personal discipline as an artist and professional gambler, as well as his quest for inner enlightenment.

Throughout the film, Weldon is seen in performance at New York's The Village Gate, a studio solo piano performance, and a rousing song and dance number from one of his many musicals, "To Be Young, Gifted and Broke."

Collis Davis will be on hand to introduce the video and to answer any questions following its screening.

Sistas' Place is located at 456 Nostrand Ave. (at Jefferson Ave.), in Brooklyn. There is a suggested donation of $5.00. For further information call 718 398 1766.