Spirits of Our Ancestors
Encyclopedia
Spirits Of Our Ancestors is an album by pianist, Randy Weston
, and was recorded in 1991. While all of the compositions (with the exception of one tradition Moroccan song) were penned by Weston himself, the music on the album is more specifically a collaborative arranging effort between Weston and arranger Melba Liston
. The music on Spirits is played by an all-star cast of well known musicians including: Dizzy Gillespie
, Pharoah Sanders
, Dewey Redman
, Idris Muhammad
, and Idrees Sulieman
.
Spirits was originally intended to be a grand culmination of Weston's experience living in and absorbing the music of Morocco. The album was to be recorded with the local musicians he had been exposed to on location in Morocco; however, due to the onset of the Gulf War around the time of recording, they decided to relocate to New York. This change of plans did not affect the authenticity of the music. The main focus of the album, as stated in the liner notes is to "...pay homage to our musical predecessors," and to "celebrate the universal musical language that transcends race, color, and nationality."
Randy Weston
Randy Weston , is an American jazz pianist and composer, of Jamaican parentage.-Biography:Weston studied classical piano as a child. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he ran a restaurant that was frequented by many of the leading bebop musicians...
, and was recorded in 1991. While all of the compositions (with the exception of one tradition Moroccan song) were penned by Weston himself, the music on the album is more specifically a collaborative arranging effort between Weston and arranger Melba Liston
Melba Liston
Melba Doretta Liston was an American jazz musician . Her collaborations with pianist/composer Randy Weston, beginning in the early 1960s, are widely acknowledged as jazz classics.-Life and career:Liston was born in Kansas City, Missouri...
. The music on Spirits is played by an all-star cast of well known musicians including: Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders is a Grammy Award–winning American jazz saxophonist.Saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world." Emerging from John Coltrane's groups of the mid-60s Sanders is known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on...
, Dewey Redman
Dewey Redman
Dewey Redman was an American jazz saxophonist, known for performing free jazz as a bandleader, and with Ornette Coleman and Keith Jarrett....
, Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
, and Idrees Sulieman
Idrees Sulieman
Idrees Sulieman was a bop and hard bop trumpeter. He studied at Boston Conservatory, and gained early experience playing with the Carolina Cotton Pickers and the wartime Earl Hines Orchestra...
.
Spirits was originally intended to be a grand culmination of Weston's experience living in and absorbing the music of Morocco. The album was to be recorded with the local musicians he had been exposed to on location in Morocco; however, due to the onset of the Gulf War around the time of recording, they decided to relocate to New York. This change of plans did not affect the authenticity of the music. The main focus of the album, as stated in the liner notes is to "...pay homage to our musical predecessors," and to "celebrate the universal musical language that transcends race, color, and nationality."
Tracklisting
- African Village Bedford-Stuyvesant 1 3:21
- The Healers 10:48
- African Cookbook 17:16
- Medley 6:43
- The Call 6:12
- African Village Bedford-Stuyvesant 2 8:30
- The Seventh Queen 16:28
- Blue Moses 12:01
- African Sunrise 19:54
- A Prayer For Us All
Personnel
- Randy Weston - piano
- Yassir Chadly - vocals, percussion
- Talib Kibwe - alto saxophone, alto flute
- Pharoah SandersPharoah SandersPharoah Sanders is a Grammy Award–winning American jazz saxophonist.Saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world." Emerging from John Coltrane's groups of the mid-60s Sanders is known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on...
- tenor saxophone, gaita - Billy HarperBilly HarperBilly Harper is a Jazz saxophonist, "one of a generation of Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists" with a distinctively stern, hard-as-nails sound on his instrument.-Biography:...
, Dewey Redman - tenor saxophone - Dizzy GillespieDizzy GillespieJohn Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Idrees Sulieman - trumpet - Benny PowellBenny PowellBenny Powell was an African American jazz trombonist. He played both standard trombone and bass trombone....
- trombone - Alex BlakeAlex BlakeAlex Blake is a post bop jazz double-bassist who began his career with Sun Ra in his band Arkestra. A live performance compilation was released by Bubble Core Records in 2000 titled Now Is the Time: Live at the Knitting Factory...
, Jamil NasserJamil NasserJamil Nasser, born George Joyner was an American jazz musician. He played double bass, electric bass, and tuba....
- bass - Idris MuhammadIdris MuhammadIdris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
- drums - Big Black, Azzedin Weston - percussion