Randy Weston Select

[Larry Kart]

I've listened to the first two discs -- which includes material I've heard before but never owned (the "Little Niles" album), stuff I've never heard (the Five Spot album), stuff I do have on LP (the Jubilee trio date), and stuff that's out for the first time (the Roulette date with Cecil Payne, Ron Carter, and Roy Haynes) -- and I'm delighted. Melba Liston's charts on "Little Niles" are so good and sound like no one else's writing, though it's hard to tell where her conception leaves off and that of Weston's compositions begins. And the band sounds like it's really committed to the music; this was no "another day in the studio" recording. The live Five Spot album has some fierce Coleman Hawkins, plus a deep Hawkins reading of Strayhorn's "Star-Crossed Lovers" (great to hear Hawk with Roy Haynes, and does he get into Weston's tunes and comping), and Kenny Dorham is in fine form too. The Jubilee trio date is the best Weston trio/solo album, I think (a wonderful stately-solemn-deep solo reading of "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," but every track is strong). and the remastering is a big upgrade. Finally, the quartet date may have the best improvising Cecil Payne ever did in front of a microphone.

[wesbed]

This set has grown to my liking more than I had expected. When in the right mood, nothing fills the space like Randy Weston. I enjoy his strong, quirky piano and the big-space sound of his compositons.

More discussion here: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=1626

[Chuck Nessa]

This set (and Randy himself) is a monster. I consider my experiences working with him a rare pleasure. Damn!

Thanks for reminding me.

[jazzbo]

I'm with Chuck solidly on this one (save I haven't yet had the pleasure of working with him). I'm one hundred and one percent a Weston fan, I've been tracking down anything he does, and this Select has some of the very best of his first decade of work within it. LOVE it!

Edited February 27, 2005 by jazzbo

[Clunky]

This is a great set, I'd like to see in the liners of Mosaic sets where possible a brief note/essay by the the leader reflecting on his work contained in the set. It add a little further understanding for some listeners.

[Parkertown]

Yes, yes it is...

I've really concentrated on Disc 3, though. Love those session; what thunderous sound!

Haven't really connected with the first 2 yet. Sounds like I've got a lot to look forward to... B-)

[sal]

Count me in as an admirer of this set. Its caused me to persue more of Randy's music.

[Brad]

Thanks for bringing this up again. I may listen to it again tonight.

[mgraham333]

I pulled this one out right after the Hill and Pepper sets arrived. It seems like I pass this one over a lot because of the last disc being just a little too cheesy for me...the vocals are at least...but having listened to it again I'm wondering why I waited so long to take it off the shelf. I really dig track 4 on disc 3. There's just so much going on. I listened to it several times focusing in one just one instrument - really listening to what was there. Simply amazing.

[TedR]

If Larry and Chuck both rave about this I have to get it. No brainer! I have the 70's BN lp twofer reissue and the live Five Spot recording has always been one of my favorite live recordings, excellently recorded as well.

[AfricaBrass]

I think Randy Weston is highly underrated. I got into his music with the Tanjah album (from the early 70's) about ten years ago. Since then, I've tried to get as much of his music as I could. I also enjoy his work with Melba Liston.

I think you can't go wrong with his Select.

[wesbed]

It's interesting when Randy Weston songs appear, at random, on other albums than his own. I like to listen to Randy's version then compare to the other version.

For example, Al Grey's Snap Your Fingers contains African Lady and Hi-Fly. Randy Weston wrote Hi-Fly and Melba Liston wrote African Lady. Another version of Hi-Fly is on Cannoball Adderley's Quintet In San Francisco. Cannonball mentions Weston's name during an introduction, if I remember correctly. Also, there is a version of Weston's Cry Me Not on Freddie Hubbards's Hub Cap.

These songs are all performed by Randy on the Randy Weston Select.

[Late]

Not only is the music great on this Select, but the remastered sound — thanks Malcolm! — is superb. The unissued quartet session with Cecil Payne is dyno-mite.

If you dig this set and don't yet have the Weston OJCs ... time to snag those before their (eventual?) bon voyage!

[Tony Pusey]

Hmmm, this is the Select which made least impression on me when it arrived, played through it a couple of times ( I had never heard any of the material before) and then it drifted into the heap of other new stuff and eventualy it got filed away, this thread has got me curious again, tis for tonights playlist! Thanks for whetting my appetite!

[jazzbo]

Wes, one of my favorite Weston interpretations is "Little Niles" on "This is Dollar Brand" (Black Lion). Nice solo piano!

Then there is that "The Warm Sound of Johnny Coles" lp/cd. Man. That is sort of a Weston session in disguise!

[marcoliv]

it's one of my favorite Selects so far

MCO

[ralphie_boy]

This set is a favorite of mine too! This was my first exposure to Weston and since buying the Mosaic I've picked up some others on vinyl (Destry, Get Happy).

The music on this set is uniformly excellent. I love the the live session with Hawk and the unreleased session with Cecil Payne. The two African-influenced sessions are terrific also. Highly recommended.

Edited March 12, 2005 by ralphie_boy

[wesbed]

Wes, one of my favorite Weston interpretations is "Little Niles" on "This is Dollar Brand" (Black Lion).  Nice solo piano! Then there is that "The Warm Sound of Johnny Coles" lp/cd. Man.  That is sort of a Weston session in disguise!

I found another Randy Weston song, 'Kuscheza Blues,' on the Horace Parlan Mosaic box. Those Weston tunes keep appearing on other artist's albums.

[brownie]

The Destry Rides Again session that was kept out of the Select on Randy Weston's request is now being reissued by FreshSound records (along with the other UA Weston album Little Niles

Destry Rides Again

[bertrand]

Why did he allow Fresh Sound to reissue this record but not Mosaic?

Bertrand.

Edited November 3, 2010 by bertrand

[Teasing the Korean]

The Destry Rides Again session that was kept out of the Select on Randy Weston's request is now being reissued by FreshSound records (along with the other UA Weston album Little Niles

[

The only Randy Weston LP I've ever unloaded. No regrets.

[Spontooneous]

Why did he allow Fresh Sound to reissue this record but not Mosaic?

Bertrand.

Is Fresh Sound even worried about whether he allows it or not?

[brownie]

FreshSounds has access to the United Artists albums and reissues a sadly neglected catalogue.

It's all very legal under EU juridiction.

Don't think Randy Weston could do much to prevent the release of this reissue.

[kh1958]

New Randy Weston out next week:

http://www.amazon.com/Storyteller-Randy-Weston/dp/B0043URV8W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1288789016&sr=1-1

[relyles]

I finally cracked open this set yesterday after purchasing it right before it went OOP. I had not heard any of this music before. Halfway through Disc 2 and thoroughly enjoying the journey so far,