An artist of moderate success yet monumental influence, Weldon Irvine was a pioneer of jazz-funk fusion and Nina Simone’s band leader. A major contributor to the 1970s Black Arts Movement, Irvine who wrote over 500 songs and over 50 theatre plays, was also integral to the evolution of hip hop, from its inception through its golden era of consciousness and heavy jazz-laden sampling, as we’ll hear from Mos Def and Q-Tip.