Festivals de Jazz de Montreux, Zaragoza et Ramatuelle, 1988 (2 Vinyles LP) / Randy Weston & Monty Alexander

Description

Randy Weston is primarily known to the general public for his African Rhythm Group, an iconic ensemble that became his signature around the world — a richly deserved recognition. A direct heir to Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, he also played a decisive role in integrating African music into the jazz idiom. In the thriving world of jazz piano, few artists have managed to fuse their cultural heritage and the jazz tradition with as much power as Randy Weston and Monty Alexander. Although separated by generation and origin — Weston, born in Brooklyn and deeply rooted in his African heritage; Alexander, originally from Kingston, Jamaica — these two pianists have forged unique paths, expanding the language of jazz without ever denying its sources. Together, Weston and Alexander remind us that jazz is not just an American art form: it is a living dialogue between continents, histories, and identities. They speak different dialects of the same language, but their messages converge: jazz tells the story of both our origins and our future — and it is through rhythm, melody, and memory that we find our true voice. In 1988, the renowned Spanish promoter Jordi Suñol, from International Jazz Productions, organized a short European tour to bring together these two piano masters. The tour took them to the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Zaragoza Jazz Festival, and the legendary Ramatuelle Jazz Festival. Each concert included a first set where each pianist performed with his percussionist, followed by a second set bringing the two masters together on stage. The accompanying musicians naturally contributed decisively to the tour's success. The African percussionist Eric Asanté, originally from Ghana, brought the moving caravan to life before the audience's eyes, while Bobby Thomas, with his remarkable mastery of hand percussion, transported the audience to the rhythms of Jamaica.