Randy Weston and His African Rhythms Sextet
The Storyteller
Motema Records
www.motema.com
By George W. Harris

Along with Ahmad Jamal, pianist Randy Weston is one of a handful of guys who have their own distinct sound, yet never became a major star by the “cognicenti.” I just love his percussive and Monkishly exotic touch, and he delivers it in spades here at this concert at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola from Dec 12, 2009. The music ranges from piano solos like “Chano Pozo” to the entire band which includes Benny Powell/tb, TK Blue/as, Alex Blake/bs, Lewis Nash/dr and Neil Clarke/perc. Everyone gets a chance to get into the spotlight, particularly during the African Cookbook Suite, which features some wild strumming by Blake and communicative rhythms by Nash and Clarke. The team gels like epoxy on “Hi Fly” and the enticing “Love, The Mystery Of” both which demonstrate Weston’s vastly overlooked compositional skills. Get this one, and look for him when he comes by on one of his rare tours. Always worth the wait.