pdf | print

A Freedom Jazz Song, In Book Form
“Over the years since we first met in the Berkshires, Langston Hughes and I had become friends. I went to Langston and asked him to write a freedom poem for the introduction to the suite, which would have four parts. He was as excited as I was by the prospects for this suite, so he eagerly agreed to write the poem. The poem which we later had translated – a point I’ll get to in a minute – became a sort of invocation for “Uhuru Afrika.”

That’s an excerpt, courtesy of fellow journalist and WPFW programmer Willard Jenkins’ website, openskyjazz.com, from the recently published “The Autobiography of Randy Weston – African Rhythms” by Weston, the incomparable pianist, and arranged by Jenkins.

“I also asked Langston to write lyrics for a song I wrote for African women called ‘African Lady,’ which became the eventual second movement. Langston’s poem set an absolutely wonderful tone for that recording session. Remember, the whole point of “Uhuru Afrika” was to talk about the freedom of a continent; a continent that has been invaded and had its children taken away, the continent of the creation of humanity. And Langston felt that, he knew it deep down in his soul.”

Jenkins, who every Thursday morning presents a set called “Ancient Future” on his WPFW program from the radio station’s Northwest Washington studio, as one way to honor the past while looking toward the future, says in the notes to the book, “One important figure in the life of Randy Weston is the great poet-author-social commentator and world traveler Langston Hughes …. and the pianist-composer speaks very fondly of his experiences with the writer …”

Weston, a recent Duke Ellington Jazz Festival performer who was at Blues Alley not long ago, recorded “Uhuru Afrika,” in 1960, with a huge cast of stars including Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Slide Hampton, Ron Carter Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef, with arrangements by Melba Liston and vocals by Brock Peters.

The book, a Duke University Press publication, promises to be a must read for anyone into music -- and freedom movements. Go to openskyjazz;.com for more information.

A legend, and more
Living legend trombonist Curtis Fuller is one of the highlight performers at D.C. venues this month, coming for two nights at the Bohemian Caverns Sept. 24-25. Fuller is one of those Blue Note records musicians who pioneered and formed the hard bop sounds we came to know and love in the 1950s and 60s. He may be best know for his stint with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, where he played with Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and Cedar Walton and Reggie Workman to form one of the most hard driving ensembles in jazz history.

Legend in the making Roy Hargrove brings his sterling trumpet sounds to Blues Alley this month, as do two 2010 Jazz Journalist Association award winners, Roberta Gambarini, named the best female vocalist, and Dr. Lonnie Liston Smith, named the top organist.

A Live Focus
A first listening of the recently released "Marc Cary Focus Trio Live 2009" recording from Motema Music was a treat that promises more treasures with more listenings. As his website says, it was recorded "at select festivals across Europe and the US ... [and features] on tabla and drums, Sameer Gupta and on bass, David Ewell … With inimitable style, Cary drives the trio towards hard-hitting turns, fusing together indigenous East Asian, Indian, African, and Native-American influences within the African-American blues and jazz traditions, as only …“

Cary, the D.C. reared and educated (Duke Ellington School of the Arts) standout who played at Bohemian Caverns in June during the D.C. Jazz Festival, shines with his buddies on "Attachment," "Just in Time," "In Between Appointments" and others on the CD.

September Highlights: Azar Lawrence, Sept. 8, Blues Alley … Roy Hargrove, Sept. 9, 11-12, Blues Alley … Antonio Parker, Thad Wilson, Sept. 10, Westminster Presbyterian Church … David Schnitter, Sept. 10-11, Twins Jazz … Roberta Gambarini, Sept. 10, Blues Alley … Charnett Mofett, Sept. 13, Blues Alley … Tony Martucci, Sept. 14, Blues Alley … Lonnie Liston Smith Sept. 15, Blues Alley … Mose Allison, Sept. 16, Blues Alley … Bill Heid, Lyle Link, Sept. 17, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Harold Summey Jr. Quartet, Sept. 17-18, Twins Jazz … Joe Sample, Sept. 20-23, Blues Alley … Curtis Fuller, Sept. 24-25, Bohemian Caverns …9th Annual D.C. Jazz Preservation Festival, Sept. 25, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Marlena Shaw, Sept. 30, Blues Alley …