Even though he was born in Brooklyn, New York, the African drums beat in the heart of this tall, cultural ambassador of world music, Randy Weston. The pianist feels very allied to the African continent. Weston has built a solid musical career as a soloist, a dynamic leader of different kinds of groups and gifted composer who is strongly influenced by Thelonious Monk. He played with giants like Cannonball Adderley, Betty Carter, Eric Dolphy, Lionel Hampton and Ahmad Jamal, released several beautiful albums on Verve and was proclaimed composer of the year twice by Down Beat Magazine. Musically he keeps building bridges by mixing African rhythms, but also traditional music from Morocco and China with American music. Last year his solo piano double album Ancient Futurewas released, on which he displays his fabulous technique once again.
