Randy Weston — Bantu

Randy Weston -- Bantu

• Artist: Randy Weston
• Title: Bantu
• Year: 1960/1957, 1976 Reissue
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy and Bob
• Acquired: 2005 – Bob Bobala Jazz Heritage Endowment
• Keeper: Yes

Bob Bob’s left-behind record collection is the gift that keeps on giving. Tonight’s album is a double from Randy Weston. Bantu comes in a nice gatefold cover complete with a lengthy article about these reissues and more significantly, the original program notes and lyrics by the late great poet Langston Hughes. Hughes collaborated on the first LP in this reissue. The second record was originally released in 1957 and consists of more straightforward, but excellent, jazz. The first LP contains “Uhuru, Afrika” which the album notes describe as his masterpiece.

“This four movement suite was one of the first acknowledgements of African roots among Afro-Americans and one of the first major jazz works to absorb that influence and use it honestly and creatively.”

I think that says it all.

Randy Weston
Langston Hughes