T.K. Blue’s reflection on the Spirit Of Our Ancestors recording by Dr. Randy Weston May 1991.
May 20, 1991 marked the first day of a landmark recording by Dr. Randy Weston and African Rhythms at the world-famous BMG studios in New York City. When I arrived at the building lobby the elevator door opened and standing inside was Dizzy Gillespie with his longtime close friend and associate Jacques Muyal, who was living in Switzerland. On my first trip to Tangiers in 1985, I visited Jacques’s home and met his mother and brother. Mr. Muyal is an extraordinary gentleman and jazz producer with a deep love of our music.
I was quite overwhelmed knowing I would be on the same recording as the great Dizzy Gillespie, responsible for the major evolution in jazz history called Bebop. We hit it off right away and Maestro Gillespie greeted me with a warm smile and hug. Once we started the session I handed Dizzy a Bb trumpet lead sheet for African Sunrise. He stated his preference for a concert lead sheet. After his perusal of the music he noticed an E minor 7(b5) to A 7(b9) resolving to D minor 7.
Dizzy then went to the piano and said “look at the E minor 7(b5) as a G minor 6th with 6th in the bass. Then he proceeded to play the most gorgeous chord progression. He was a pure musical genius! When he later did the first and only take of African Sunrise, Dizzy never looked at the music.
Soon to arrive in the studio were the leader Randy Weston and his longtime arranger and trombonist Melba Liston. Melba had recently endured a stroke and was confined to a wheel chair. However she taught herself how to compose and arrange on the computer using her left hand only (her right hand was incapacitated due to the stroke). Preceding this recording Randy and I were performing in Los Angeles and we would frequently check on Melba to see how she was doing health wise and how the arrangements were unfolding.
Shortly after their arrival an A list of jazz practitioners blessed the room with their astonishing presence: Idrees Sulieman-trumpet and who also could burn on alto sax
Benny Powell—trombone (Benny and I had become really close since our joint performances and tours for African Rhythms dating back to 1985. I was also featured on his album: Why Don’t You Say Yes, Sometimes? It was recorded around the same time as Spirits Of Our Ancestors in 1991)
Billy Harper—tenor sax (I first heard Billy with his band at Joe Lee Wilson’s jazz loft The Ladies Fort Festival in the mid 1970’s. He was on fire and I also heard him later with Max Roach.
Dewey Redman—tenor sax (Dewey often spoke very highly about a young upcoming tenor titan that was not very well known, but soon to be the unconquerable master musician Joshua Redman) It was my first time to play with Dewey and he was also featured with Randy’s band for a concert at Lincoln Center not too long before he passed away. He was a gentle man and a giant on the tenor sax!
Pharoah Sanders—tenor sax (I was a huge fan of Mr. Sanders since my high school days in Long Island. During my senior year the early 1970’s The Creator Has A Master Plan was our anthem. It was quite awe-inspiring to have an opportunity to record with a master and spiritual beacon of improvisation.
Alex Blake—bass. Alex and I are best friends and his artistry on the bass is quite breathtaking. This was our first recording together. I first heard him in duo with Randy at the Village Vanguard in the mid 1970’s.
Jamil Nasser—Maestro Jamil and Randy were extremely tight. Randy credited Jamil with introducing him to four great pianists: Oscar Dennard, Lucky Roberts, Phineas Newborn, and Ahmad Jamal. I was blessed to be a member of Benny Powell’s Quintet since the late 1980’s and Jamil was one of the bassists. He knowledge was vast and deeply spiritual.
Idris Muhammad—drums. It was my first opportunity to perform with Idris. Wow he always displayed an in-depth sensibility for the second-line New Orleans aesthetic and kept everything modern with melodic underpinnings. Randy loved Idris dearly and they had previously recorded together for Verve Records.
Big Black—words are inadequate to describe his dexterous rhythmic interplay and soulful drive on the hand drums rooted in the Mississippi delta blues, jazz, and the traditions of Africa and its diaspora. I was so overjoyed to perform many concerts with Big Black and his sense of time and swing was quite astounding!
Azzedin Weston—The first time I ever heard Randy Weston perform live was at the East in Bed-Stuyvesant Brooklyn circa early 1970’s. His band was a duo with his son Azzedin. Their communication and symmetry were beyond belief and the rhythmic pulsating groove remained ever present. I later performed with a group in Jamaica, NY and we opened for T.S. Monk’s band, which featured Azzedin on percussion. He was a natural genius who also spoke several languages fluently and his artwork could rival Picasso’s!!! We were like brothers and I was very sad at his passing.
Yassir Chadly—genbri and karkaba. Yassir was part of the Gnawa musical tradition from Morocco and he resided on the west coast. Randy’s original plan was six Gnawa musicians from Morocco but they were not allowed visas at the last minute. Yassir did a wonderful job as their replacement.
Producer: Jean Philippe Allard and Brian Bacchus
Photos: Ching Ming
Ehgineer: Jay Newland
Talib Kibwe—music director
This was the first time I was designated as Randy’s musical director. It was physically difficult for Melba to direct so I was called to the task. I also had to solo after Dizzy on African Sunrise, which was a daunting endeavor.
I will always remember this date and the unbelievable bond established among all participants. Melba wrote some immensely memorable arrangements capturing the spirit of our ancestors. Please check out the three tenor saxophones in battle on The African Cookbook!!!
My last visit to Randy’s place in Brooklyn was on Sat August 18th. He was so happy and energetic. Coincidentally when I walked in the room he was listening to a CD of his solo improvisatory piano incursions of the highest level. With each note and phrase both of us were in a profound state of excitement. I asked “Hey Chief, where’s this from?” He candidly replied “The Spirit Of Our Ancestors” T.K. Blue (Talib Kibwe) Sept 16, 2018.
Subsequently I went on to record the following projects with Dr. Weston:
–Volcano Blues
–Saga
—Khepera
—Spirit, The Power Of Music
—The Storyteller (I was an associate producer)
—The African Nubian Suite (I was an associate producer)
I was very fortunate to spend 38 years performing, recording, and touring the world with Dr. Randy Weston, an African Griot of the highest magnitude, who embodied the spirit of his ancestors.