Customer Reviews

Khepera

5 star:		(5)
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This is a "concept album" that works without any knowledge of the concepts. Like the classic "Spirits of our Ancestors" Pharoah Sanders sits in with Weston's band once again, and the results are out of this world. Xiao-Fen's pipa playing is amazing. I have never heard a pipa sound like this. Usually a "mellow" instrument, here she shreds in an untraditional manner.

Only reservation -The final track "mystery of love" is a nice straight ahead tune but sounds very out of place after the dizzying heights the rest of this set reaches.

I became aware of this album when I heard "Portrait of Cheikh Anta Diop" on my local jazz radio station. I almost crashed my car. Pharoah Sanders kills it. Min Xiao Fen plays the pipa at insane tempos. And Alex Blake on bass...oh, wow. And of course Randy is always Randy...Ellingtiona meets Monk. His use of space is just wonderful.

Most importantly this album hipped me to the artistry of Melba Liston. An extraordinary composer and arranger (and slamming trombonist in her day), she did this, her last recording before she died, while in a wheelchair.

This is a must have for any real jazz head.

RANDY WESTON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN JAZZ MUSICIANS TO EXPLORE "WORLD MUSIC", AND THIS CD IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT EXPLORATION. HIS FOCUS HAS MAINLY BEEN ON AFRICAN MUSIC, AND HE IS ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST WELL KNOWN JAZZ MUSICIANS WHO IS A PROPONENT OF IT. THIS CD FEATURES THE GREAT PHAROAH SANDERS ON SAXOPHONE AND SOME EXTREMELY AVANT GARDE MUSIC (A LA JOHN COLTRANE, AND SOME MONK-LIKE PIANO SOUNDS) MIXED IN WITH AFRICAN RHYTHMS AND FLAVORS. IF YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN AND "LISTEN" TO A CD, YOU WILL ENJOY THIS ONE.

This is an amazing album. The opening track "Creation" is so primal sounding. You can practically picture the Earth being created. Right down to Chief Bey's vocals which sound so primative, like the birth of mankind. Min Xiao Fen, the Pipa virtuoso, adds her talents to 2 tracks. The beautiful "The Shang" is just Pipa and piano. The 20 page booklet is packed with very interesting essays on the Chinese/African connection. Almost like a history lesson in itself. Plus loads of photos and track by track notes. This album is an experience not to be missed.

This is Weston at his best. This is jazz. Intro (1.) realy did not sound good, but the rest is fantastic!