Spirit Man channels the sonic sprawl of the preceding
Cosmic Vortex (Justice Divine) to forge a tighter, more focused approach. Eschewing vocals altogether, it's
Weldon Irvine's most balanced and complete recording, deftly combining massive funk grooves with ingenious electronic elements. Featuring a supporting cast including bassist Cleveland Freeman, trumpeters
Charles Sullivan and Everett "Blood" Hollins, and saxophonist
Sonny Fortune,
Spirit Man parallels
Herbie Hancock's groundbreaking fusion dates in both the imagination and ferocity of
Irvine's keyboards as well as the extraterrestrial reach of its electronic effects. This music is deep, funky, and deeply funky. ~ Jason Ankeny