Randy Weston

Randy Weston
Weston in 2007
Weston in 2007
Background information
Birth nameRandolph Edward Weston
Born(1926-04-06)April 6, 1926
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 1, 2018(2018-09-01) (aged 92)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
GenresJazz, African jazz, world fusion
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, bandleader
InstrumentPiano
Years active1950s–2018
LabelsRiverside, Antilles, Verve, Motéma
Websiterandyweston.info

Randolph Edward "Randy" Weston (April 6, 1926 – September 1, 2018) was an American jazz pianist and composer whose creativity was inspired by his ancestral African connection.[1]

Weston's piano style owed much to Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk,[2] whom he cited in a 2018 video as among pianists he counted as influences, as well as Count Basie, Nat King Cole and Earl Hines.[3] Beginning in the 1950s, Weston worked often with trombonist and arranger Melba Liston.[4][5]

Described as "America's African Musical Ambassador", Weston once said: "What I do I do because it's about teaching and informing everyone about our most natural cultural phenomenon. It's really about Africa and her music."[6]

  1. ^ Kevin Le Gendre, "Randy Weston 06/04/26 – 01/09/18", Jazzwise, September 3, 2018.
  2. ^ Ian Patterson, on Randy Weston African Rhythms Sextet: The Storyteller, All About Jazz, November 24, 2010.
  3. ^ "Randy Weston talks about his new solo double CD Sound", YouTube video, March 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Richard S. Ginell. "Randy Weston". AllMusic. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  5. ^ Carney Smith, Jessie, ed. (1995). Notable Black American Women (Book 2). Gale. pp. 413–415. ISBN 0810391775.
  6. ^ Hakim Abdul-Ali, "Randy Weston: America's African Musical Ambassador"[usurped], Charleston Chronicle, June 15, 2016.