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Gil Scott-Heron

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Gil Scott-Heron

 


Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘70s albums were jazzy funk of an intelligence notably lacking in the Age of Disco, and his political wordplay anticipated and pre-dated rap. As a novelist, poet, and pianist, Scott-Heron achieved an arresting synthesis of laid-back soul music- with jazz-fusion embellishment borrowed from Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis- and class-struggle sermonizing. As evidenced by the title track “Whitey on the Moon” from 1974’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, the singer often leavened his heavy messages with crafty wit, but at his most direct (“Home Is Where the Hatred Is”), he could come on with all of the significant fury and force- if a little of the furious noise- of Public Enemy or the Clash. Even though “Johannesburg,” off 1975’s From South Africa to South Carolina, gave him FM-radio airplay, Scott-Heron has generally remained a critical and cult success only. Playing with expert musicians, he has made extremely competent records, but his coals have lacked, distinction, and an overreliance on the glossy flute work of Hubert Laws and collaborator Brian Jackson has sometimes blunted the rhythmic edge of his songs. “Re-Ron,” a biting anti-Reagan diatribe from The Best Of, shows him working with a tougher sound, courtesy of Material’s Bill Laswell; his 80’s work, as a whole, gained in force. But Scott-Heron proves move noteworthy as an early influence on urban music. Ahead of his time in a decade when most funk was escapism, Scott-Heron prophesized while others partied. His 2010 comeback and final album I’m New Here, saw a late career and well deserved renascence of the man’s career. Jamie xx made a remix album, 2011’s We’re New Here with the amazing track, “I’ll Take Care of U.” This would all prove to be a fitting send-off as Scott-Heron would pass in May 2011 at the age of 52. He was one of the most committed, with so much breadth. Even in death, many are still inspired by his one-in-a-million-voice, with a new remix album of that said last album being released this year with We’re New Again - A Reimagining By Makaya McCraven. The man is a legend.

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Gil Scott-Heron

 

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