Research Catalog

Title

Oral history interview with Randy Weston.

Author

Weston, Randy, 1926-2018

Publication

New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1996.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Ridley, Larry
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Description

3 videodiscs (65 min.) : sound, color; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

The oral history interview with Randy Weston, jazz pianist and composer, begins with Weston on piano and interviewer Larry Ridley on double bass performing a composition by Weston. Afterwards Weston describes Louis Armstrong as the first improviser, scat singer, and the first to take the message of music around the planet. Born April 6, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York, Randy Weston was raised in a musical and inspirational home. His father (Caribbean born, follower of Marcus Garvey) told him at an early age that he was an African born in America; Weston's mother (Virginia born) saw that he was in a Black church every Sunday. Weston recalls growing up in the time of big bands, the beginning of bebop, and in a period of genius and creativity. This influence steered Weston into making his own music for his own people he states. Weston explains his belief that all music comes from Africa. He talks about the musical cultures of Africa and how African-Americans have inherited this same musical sense and spiritual language. He discusses the misconceptions of jazz critics and musicologists; expresses his observations on the lack of support for jazz. He feels people need to be reminded that jazz, being both traditional and modern, is the most advanced music of the 20th century, thus, African-Americans must realize how much they have contributed to the world. Weston explains he learned improvisation by mainly listening, and points out the high level of music he was exposed to of the 1920s, 30s and 40s during his youth. He was an ardent fan of Coleman Hawkins along with many others. Weston then talks about his experiences with Sufism, his friendship with Abdul Malik and exposure to Arab music. He describes hearing Thelonious Monk on piano for the first time and how it embodied all he was trying to do with his own music. He relates a unique experience of visiting Monk at his home and compares this with an experience of meeting Professor Shaw, a Sufi master, while in Tangier several years later; both were spiritual events, he felt. Similarly, Weston explains that African-Americans are spiritual people, this quality manifests itself in their music. He feels that the movement of increased interest in people's African heritage will help strengthen the African-American people. Weston concludes the interview by briefly telling about his extensive travels in Africa (where he lived for seven years), Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, Japan, South America, and the South Pacific.

Donor/Sponsor

The Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project was funded by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

Subjects

• Piano music (Jazz)
• Weston, Randy > Interviews
• Abdul-Malik, Ahmed > Influence
• Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971 > Influence
• Oral histories
• Monk, Thelonious > Influence
• Pianists > United States > Interviews
• Hawkins, Coleman > Influence
• African Americans > Music > Influence
• African Americans > Foreign countries
• Interviews
• Music > African influences
• Weston, Randy > Travel
• Jazz musicians > United States > Interviews
• Jazz > History
• African Americans > Music > History and criticism
• Weston, Randy > Childhood and youth
• African American musicians

Genre/Form

• Interviews.
• Oral histories.

Note

• The Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project was funded by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

Terms of Use (note)

• Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography (note)

• Randy Weston was a jazz pianist and composer. Born April 6, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York, Weston began playing piano as a youngster. Partly through his family's influence he has fostered a deep connection to his African heritage and expresses this through his music and conversation. He has travelled extensively, particularly throughout Africa, and attempts to remind his own people of how much they have contributed to the world.

Linking Entry (note)

• Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Call Number

Sc Visual DVD-1061

OCLC

1121596319

Author

Weston, Randy, 1926-2018, interviewee.

Title

Oral history interview with Randy Weston.

Production

New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1996.

Type of Content

two-dimensional moving image

Type of Medium

video

Type of Carrier

videodisc

Digital File Characteristics

video file DVD

Performer

Interviewer, Larry Ridley.

Event

Recorded June 10, 1996 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Terms Of Use

Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography

Randy Weston was a jazz pianist and composer. Born April 6, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York, Weston began playing piano as a youngster. Partly through his family's influence he has fostered a deep connection to his African heritage and expresses this through his music and conversation. He has travelled extensively, particularly throughout Africa, and attempts to remind his own people of how much they have contributed to the world.

Linking Entry

Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Connect to:

Request Access to Schomburg Moving Images and Recorded Sound

Added Author

Ridley, Larry, interviewer.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Research Call Number

Sc Visual DVD-1061

Sc Visual VRA-199 VHS

Sc Visual VRC-22 MII videotape