Filmed live concert by Charlie Wilson at the North Sea Jazz Festival, at Ahoy in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on 14 July 2013. A former leader of The Gap Band and a key figure in R&B and funk since the 1970s, “Uncle Charlie” brings all the exuberance of an accomplished showman to the stage: a powerful voice, an unstoppable groove and a tight rhythm section. Backed by backing vocalists, guitarists and keyboard players, the Oklahoma singer runs through the hits that have marked his career, from The Gap Band’s flamboyant funk to his solo successes, by way of the imprint he left on hip-hop and contemporary soul through collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Kanye West and Justin Timberlake. This live capture restores the warmth and infectious energy of a briskly led festival set. A cancer survivor and committed advocate, Charlie Wilson embodies the longevity and generosity of a living funk legend. A full concert ideal for (re)discovering, in 2013, one of the great African-American entertainers at one of Europe’s most prestigious Black-music festivals.
Personnel & credits
- Charlie Wilson — chant
- Aubrey Swan — chœurs
- Ricardo Vasquez — guitare
- Michael Anderson — guitare
- Cordell Walton — claviers
- Lawrence Washington — claviers, basse
- Derrick Sorrell
- Jerry Garvin
