PRE-ORDER: This item will be shipped with the aim to deliver on release day.
PRE-ORDER: This item will be shipped with the aim to deliver on release day.
Description
One of three releases marking the 100th birthday of Randy Weston, Montreux Jazz Festival 1985 features previously unreleased live material from the great US pianist and his big band. The concert opened with Randy Weston's iconic composition "African Cookbook," requested by Claude Nobs, the founder and director of Montreux Jazz Festival. It was followed by "Hi-Fly," Randy's signature piece, driven by rhythm and energy. His mastery as a composer shines through in the poignant "Blues for Strayhorn" and the deeply personal "Portrait of Frank Edward Weston," a tribute to his father and one of his great inspirations.
"African Sunrise" - also presented that year at the Kool Jazz Festival in Chicago with Machito's orchestra and appears here in an arrangement by Melba Liston, showcasing her genius once again.
The nine-piece big band featured an amazing group of musicians, led by Randy Weston on piano, and incouded trumpeter Benny Bailey, saxophonists Sahib Shihab and Talib Kbiwe, trombonists Benny Powell and George Lewis, bassist Wilbur Little, drummer Clyde Lucas and percussionist Sam Kelly.
Recorded: July 8, 1985 at Montreux Jazz Festival 1985
Mixing & Mastering at Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, CA by Doug Sax (2009)
Compiled and prepared from Jacques Muyal's archive by Blaise Favre / Switzerland (July 2025)
Sound Restoration of the historic tapes and Mastering by Frank Schmidt & Oliver Noack at Temple Studio, Freiburg, Germany (October 2025)
Description
One of three releases marking the 100th birthday of Randy Weston, Montreux Jazz Festival 1985 features previously unreleased live material from the great US pianist and his big band. The concert opened with Randy Weston's iconic composition "African Cookbook," requested by Claude Nobs, the founder and director of Montreux Jazz Festival. It was followed by "Hi-Fly," Randy's signature piece, driven by rhythm and energy. His mastery as a composer shines through in the poignant "Blues for Strayhorn" and the deeply personal "Portrait of Frank Edward Weston," a tribute to his father and one of his great inspirations.
"African Sunrise" - also presented that year at the Kool Jazz Festival in Chicago with Machito's orchestra and appears here in an arrangement by Melba Liston, showcasing her genius once again.
The nine-piece big band featured an amazing group of musicians, led by Randy Weston on piano, and incouded trumpeter Benny Bailey, saxophonists Sahib Shihab and Talib Kbiwe, trombonists Benny Powell and George Lewis, bassist Wilbur Little, drummer Clyde Lucas and percussionist Sam Kelly.
Recorded: July 8, 1985 at Montreux Jazz Festival 1985
Mixing & Mastering at Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, CA by Doug Sax (2009)
Compiled and prepared from Jacques Muyal's archive by Blaise Favre / Switzerland (July 2025)
Sound Restoration of the historic tapes and Mastering by Frank Schmidt & Oliver Noack at Temple Studio, Freiburg, Germany (October 2025)
Tracklisting
Tracklisting
Sun Ra Arkestra
Ron Carter
Maite Hontele & Ramon Valle
Nanny Assis
Ron Carter
Ron Carter
Ron Carter
Randy Weston & African Rhythm Orchestra
Levi Harvey
Joe Harriott
Gustaf Ljunggren With Skuli Sverrisson
Tim Richards Trio
Eddie Gripper
Rachel Sutton
South West Oldtime All Stars
Catherine Russell
