The roots of the blues

Description

The collaboration between Randy Weston and Billy Harper dates back to the summer of '74. According to Weston, one of the main reasons for the success of his collaboration with Billy Harper lies in the saxophonist's ability to hold a note and make it sing. Weston's exceptional style is found throughout its flamboyance in his new composition "Blues to Africa," the title of which seems to well summarize the philosophical perspective of the pianist. As in most of his records, Randy Weston favored his own compositions, ten of the fourteen tracks on the album being of his own making. There is also one track by Harper as well as three standards, which is relatively unusual for Weston: "Body & Soul," "How High the Moon," and "Take the A Train." The bonus track is a modernized version of the beautiful ballad "African Lady," one of the highlights of "Uhuru Africa," the album that definitively established Weston released in 1960. "The Roots of Blues" marks the beginning of a new stage in Randy Weston's odyssey on the planet, the sprightly octogenarian transforming into a fearless explorer of African rhythms.