It's impossible to distinguish between Randy Weston's musical innovations and his conception of the world he was born into.  To say that the roots of jazz are in West Africa is hardly a groundbreaking statement nowadays, but it was a mostly unfamiliar notion when he started to say it in the 1950's.  It's easy to hear it now, especially when you listen to Weston's 6+ decade discography.  It's in his percussive compositions and it's in the story of his life, making music with players from throughout the African diaspora.  To this day, musicians are walking through the doors he opened, more than 6 years after his death at age 92. 

 

Pianist Vijay Iyer chose Randy Weston for this Monday's Deep Focus with host Mitch Goldman.  What inspired him to make that choice?  Was it Weston's distinctive touch on the piano?  The warmth and humanity that he exudes?  Or maybe just pure admiration for one who always charted his own path?   

 

To find out, tune in this Monday (3/24) from 6p to 9p NYC time on WKCR 89.9FM, WKCR-HD or wkcr.org.  

 

Or join us when it goes up on the Deep Focus podcast on your favorite podcasting app or at https://mitchgoldman.podbean.com/.  Subscribe right now to get notifications when new episodes are posted.  It's ad-free, all free, totally non-commercial.  We won't even ask for your contact info.  

Find out more about Deep Focus at https://mitchgoldman.com/about-deep-focus/ or join us on

Instagram @deep_focus_podcast.  

 

Photo credit: Randy Weston - Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of David D. Spitzer.

 

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