Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron was an American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and '80s. His collaborative efforts with musician Brian Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues, and soul, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. His own term for himself was "bluesologist", which he defined as "a scientist who is concerned with the origin of the blues." His music, most notably on Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul.

[quote]If you like the funky and rappy GSH this isn't for you. Forget the pared down stuff with the XX too. This is full of balls out soaring sax solos, great jazz keyboard, and GSH doing some SINGING. I'd say it's a bit of a trippy hardcore jazz experience in that 70's concept album vein. But check the Brian Holloway sax solo on Save the Children with the volume on 11 and just be blown away. A mixed album but smattered with some geeeeenius!

Review by Toby Holt

Tracklist:

CD1:

01. Washington D.C. (06:23)
02. Save The Children (11:21)
03. Angel Dust (22:41)
04. Gun (04:06)
05. Blue Collar (10:31)
06. Alien (Hold On To Your Dream) (06:31)

CD2:

01. Three Miles Down (08:16)
02. The Bottle (14:51)
03. Winter In America (07:47)
04. Is That Jazz (05:32)
05. 'B' Movie (16:35)