African Cookbook

Randy Weston | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B00000I9EP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #631,639 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Berkshire Blues

2. Portrait of Vivian

3. Willie's Tune

4. Niger Mambo

5. African Cookbook

6. Congolese Children

7. Blues for Five Reasons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars synthesis of two styles coming together, September 14, 2007

By 

COMPUTERJAZZMAN "computerjazzman" (Cliffside Park, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Cookbook (Audio CD)

Randy Weston, has basically had two different phases of his musical career: his earlier work, which is more hard bop, bluesy kind of jazz, and his later work which is caharcterized by his emphasis on African beats, rhythms and melodies. The music recorded on this CD came at a time (1964) when he was basically transitioning from one style to the other one, and as a result, there are elements of both here but I would say there is more emphasis on the former than the latter. His forthcoming output would be a lot more deeply steeped in African music. And on this CD, there is great sax playing by Booker Ervin, who was a mainstay in Weston's band at that time (The much later album Khepara, features another great sax player, Pharoah Sanders, and it is interesting to note the contrast in their styles).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Cooks, March 22, 2010

By 

.fgd (usa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African Cookbook (Audio CD)

African cook-book has the sound of the under-ground in terms of being neither commercial sounding or that annoying jazz increasingly has of being too abstact to follow. But it is fluid yet still abstacting as jazz does with wonderful melodies. Booker Erving makes this album come together with his own horn.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tasty and timeless!, March 3, 2011

By 

twistyhair "Fully present today" (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African Cookbook (Audio CD)

I'm embarrassed to admit that I did not realize this album was over 40 years old, but I guess that's a testimony to Randy Weston. I couldn't stop listening to this CD once it arrived. There's so much good music here and it all sounds fresh to my ears. The compositions are unique in the way they draw on a variety of traditions.

Mr. Weston is a generous performer too - allowing the other musicians on this album to shine. This is a good addition to your collection and a great starting place for an introduction to Randy Weston's music.