Randy Weston - Tanjah (1973)

1.Hi-Fly
2.In Memory Of
3.Sweet Meat
4.Jamaica East
5.Sweet Meat (First Alternative Take)
6.Tanjah
7.The Last Day
8.Sweet Meat (Second Alternative Take).
9.Little Niles.

Tanjah is a gem from the 1970s, featuring Randy Weston and Melba Liston collaborating together (their last would be in 1998's Khepera, which is still commercially available), utilizing a big band format. Since this was recorded in the 1970s, you should expect some electric instruments - in this case Weston playing a Fender Rhodes piano on some of the selections. Critics will no doubt argue as to whether the electric piano detracts from the music, but personally I find no problem with it (maybe it's simply because I'm a child of the 1970s); where there will be no argument is on the compositions and performances, which are rock solid. The CD added the alternative takes of "Sweet Meat".

These sessions were recorded May 21 - May 22, 1973 and originally issued on Polydor that same year (catalogue # 5055). Verve reissued the album in CD form in 1995. Currently it's out of print.

All discographical information courtesy of Randy Weston's website and AMG.

Randy Weston - Piano, Fender Rhodes
Ernie Royal - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Ray Copeland - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Jon Faddis - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Al Grey - Trombone
Jack Jeffers - Baritone Trombone
Julius Watkins - French-Horn
Norris Turney - Alto Sax, Picolo
Budd Johnson - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Clarinet
Billy Harper - Tenor Sax, Flute
Danny Bank - Baritone Sax, Baritone Clarinet, Flute
Ron Carter - Bass
Rudy Collins - Drums
Azzedin Weston - Percussion
Candido Camero - Percussion, Narrator
Omar Clay - Marimba, Timbales
Taiwo Yusve Divall - Alt Sax, Ashiko Drums
Earl Williams - Percussion
Ahmed-Abdul Malik - Oud, Narrator (on 7)
Delores Ivory Davis - Vocal (on 8)

Melba Liston arranger, director.

Randy Weston - Uhuru Africa (1960)

1.Uhuru Kwansa (Weston)
2.African Lady (Weston, L. Hughes)
3.Bantu (Weston)
4.Kucheza Blues (Weston).



Randy Weston Orchestra
Randy Weston piano
Clark Terry trumpet, flugelhorn
Benny Bailey trumpet
Richard Williams trumpet
Freddie Hubbard trumpet
Slide Hampton trombone
Jimmy Cleveland trombone
Quentin Jackson trombone
Julius Watkins french-horn
Gigi Gryce alt sax, flute
Yusef Lateef tenor sax, flute, oboe
Sahib Shihab alt sax, baritone sax
Budd Johnson tenor sax, clarinet
Jerome Richardson baritone sax, piccolo
Cecil Payne baritone sax
Les Spann guitar, flute
Kenny Burrell guitar
George Duvivier bass
Ron Carter bass
Max Rouch drums, percussion
Charlie Persip drums, percussion
Wilbert G. T. Hoggan drums
Candido congas
Michael Babatunde Olatunji percussion
Armando Peraza bongos
Martha Flowers vocal
Brock Peters vocal
Tuntemeke Sanga narrator.

UHURU AFRIKA
On a recent trip to Nigeria at the time of Independence, I listened to much Nigerian jazz, both live and recorded. In this music of the New Africa, it seems to me, the American influence is considerable. Tony Scott has been to South Africa. Louis Armstrong has attracted enormous crowds to racetracks and outdoor stadiums all over the continent. Dizzy Gillespie has charmed not only snakes but hep and unhep cats alike. American recordings have penetrated to the farthest jungle jukebox.

Jazz is a popular commodity with all African radio stations. And Victor Ola-lya's Yoruba band in Lagos calls itself The Cool Cats. To the African drum beat have been added Birmingham breaks, Harlem riffs and Birdland trimmings. The basic beat of jazz which began in Africa, thence transplanted to the New World, has now come back home bringing with it most of the contemporary American additions -from blues to post-bop.