The Edification of Weldon Irvine

The Edification of Weldon Irvine

By Laylah Amatullah Barrayn

Brooklyn’s Sisters Place Café hosted the first public screening of "The Edification of Weldon Irvine" last Friday. Filmmaker Collis H. Davis, Jr. who was a long-time friend of the late jazz musician shot the film over 20 years ago as his thesis film while a graduate film student at New York University.

"I decided to shoot Weldon as a subject for my film because at the time he had gained some sort of notoriety as musician and recording artist with MCA records." Explains Davis, who is currently a professor living in the Philippines.

Weldon Irvine committed suicide April 9, 2002, he was 59. It is interesting to note that Irvine’s mother also committed suicide.

The documentary opens up in 1974 with Irvine speaking with Davis about seclusion and isolation. Weldon explained the need to create two identities in order to remain self- possessed; one identity for public consumption and the other his own true personal persona.

Throughout the film Irvine delves into the his own personal philosophy concerning the struggle to attain peace of mind amidst a troubled family background and the music industry. Beautifully shot and edited, it pans from Irvine in performance at the Village Gate with his then band, The Kats, to him in martial arts class, to Irvine on location in his hometown of Hampton, Virginia. The documentary also gives an in-depth interview with his grandmother who raised him after his parents divorced.

Irvine was pianist, playwright and composer of over 500 works and is well known for his work with Nina Simone. As her artistic director in the early seventies, Weldon penned the lyrics for the song "Young, Gifted and Black."

"Nina needed an organist to embellish her sound," Weldon explains of Nina Simone recruiting him to her band. "She was a gifted poet, prophet and a perfectionist, which is why we worked together well." Weldon went on to work with Simone for several years as her musical director.

Irvine’s work is also sampled by many hip hop artists. A Tribe Called Quest’s “Electric Relaxation” is derived from Irvine’s “We Getting Down”, for example. Talib Kweli “Where do we go” from his latest album Quality, is a dedication to Irvine who was a close friend and a musical collaborator. Irvine has worked with many artists from different genres from Miles Davis to Big Daddy Kane to Talib Kewli to poet MuMs the Schemer.

Weldon had much faith in hip hop and was very supportive of the MCs who used the art form to offer commentary and invoke change. You may remember Irvine in the background rapper/actor Mos Def's "Umi Says" video. In 1999 he teamed up many well known MCs, who affectionately dubbed him Master Wel, to create the Amadou Project. Although never officially released, the Amadou Project celebrates the life of murdered West African vendor Amadou Diallo, shot 41 times in 1999, and it also give harsh commentary on police brutality.

Many of the questions asked during the Q&A by audience members, most of whom were close associates of Irvine, surrounded the nature of his death. Many speculated about his decision to take his life in the parking lot of EAB Bank, some made suggestions that it symbolized his rumored struggles with the IRS.

"We must show greater support and surround our artist and activist and those who go out on behalf of the greater community," says screening attendee Lisa Muhammad, activist and poet. “We had Weldon to turn to but he may not have had anyone to turn to himself.”