Celebrating Randy Weston: An Evening with T.K. Blue and the African Rhythms Alumni Quartet at Dizzy's

Randy Weston passed away at the age of 92 in September 2018, leaving an indelible mark on the jazz community. Just weeks prior to his transition, he had given a performance at the Nice Jazz Festival and was in fine form. Weston enjoyed many accolades in the last chapter of his life including being recognized as an NEA Jazz Master and receiving a prestigious Doris Duke award. He was a noted composer, contributing many jazz classics to the jazz pantheon, a distinctive pianist and a towering figure in the jazz community over the course of a 70-year career.

At Dizzy's Club, the ensemble African Rhythms Alumni Quartet led by saxophonist and flutist T.K. Blue, offered a four-night tribute to Randy Weston. I had the privilege of attending the final evening of this series. T.K. Blue, who collaborated with Weston for 38 years and also served as his bandleader, helmed the tribute with deep personal and musical insight. He was joined by bassist Alex Blake and master percussionist Chief Baba Neil Clarke, both of whom had extensive, decades-long affiliations with Weston. Pianist Sharp Radway, a Weston protégé with a distinguished career as a sideman, admirably served as the group's pianist.

For this special occasion, the quartet was augmented by acclaimed violinist Regina Carter, whose contributions lent a new dimension to the ensemble. The performance commenced with an emotive rendition of "African Village Bedford Stuyvesant," succeeded by a lovely ballad penned by T.K. Blue in homage to Weston, "The Long Goodbye," which featured Blue's stunning flute work. The set also featured two of Weston's best-known compositions, "Little Niles" and a lengthy version of "Kucheza Blues." Of note was bassist Alex Blake's solo, marked by his uniquely percussive approach to the bass. Blake not only attacked the strings with vigor but simultaneously scatted to great effect. His performance stood as one of the many highlights of a fine set of music. The evening reached a high point when jazz piano master Monty Alexander, a guest in the audience, was invited to play. The ensemble proceeded to perform a jubilant and hard-swinging version of "H-Fly," one of Weston's most iconic pieces. It was a superb conclusion to an evening that both honored and celebrated Randy Weston's monumental contributions to the world of jazz.

The slideshow includes pictures from this event and photos from a performance by Randy Weston at The Nash in 2017.

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