Celebrating what would have been Gil Scott-Heron's 74th birthday, I took another deep dive deep into his catalogue with Brian Jackson — the pianist, flautist, musical director and composer that mobilised Scott-Heron's words from 1970 to 1980.

*Please excuse my sketchy editing and voice notes*

A huge thank you to Brian & to Tess at Skylab Radio!

Tracklist:
1. A Lovely Day — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [From South Africa To South Carolina]
2. A Toast To The People — The Black & Blues [A Toast To The People / Chains 7”]
3. The Needle’s Eye — Gil Scott-Heron [Pieces Of A Man]
4. Angola, Louisiana — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [Secrets]
5. It’s Your World — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [It’s Your World]
6. Willing — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [1980]
7. Angel Dust — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [Secrets]
8. Fell Together — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [From South Africa To South Carolina]
9. Chains — The Black & Blues [A Toast To The People / Chains 7”]
10. Bicentennial Blues — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [It’s Your World]
11. Paint It Black (Read by Brian Jackson) — Gil Scott-Heron [Small Talk at 125th & Lenox]
12. Middle Of Your Day — Gil Scott-Heron [Free Will]
13. Did You Hear What They Said — Gil Scott-Heron [Free Will]
14. Parents (Interlude) — Gil Scott-Heron [I’m New Here]
15. Rivers Of My Fathers — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [Winter In America]
16. A Dream Deferred (Read by Brian Jackson) — Langston Hughes
17. Alluswe — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson’s Midnight Band [The First Minute Of A New Day]
18. Beginnings (The First Minute Of A New Day) — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [From South Africa To South Carolina]
19. A Song For Bobby Smith — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [Winter In America]
20. Save The Children (Live) — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [From South Africa To South Carolina]
21. Your Daddy Loves You — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [Winter In America]
22. Racetrack France — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [Bridges]
23. When You Are Who You Are — Gil Scott-Heron [Pieces Of A Man]
24. Prayer For Everybody / To Be Free — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [Secrets]
25. Peace Go With You Brother - As-Salaam-Alaikum — Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson [Winter In America]

A few links of relevance:
https://www.freegarytyler.com/
https://www.keithlamar.org/
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44428/the-negro-speaks-of-rivers
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46548/harlem

Lori

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