Blue Moses

Personnel: Randy Weston (piano, electric piano); Madame Meddah (vocals); Hubert Laws (flute, alto flute, bass flute, electric flute, piccolo); Romeo Penque (flute, alto flute, bass flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe); George Marge (flute, alto flute, bass flute, clarinet, English horn); Grover Washington, Jr. (tenor saxophone); Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm, John Frosk (trumpet, flugelhorn); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Brooks Tillotson, James Buffington (French horn); Paul Faulise (trombone, bass trombone); Wayne Andre (trombone, baritone horn); Garnett Brown, Warren Covington (trombone); Billy Cobham (drums); Azzedin Weston, Airto Moreira, Phil Karus (percussion).
Liner Note Author: Randy Weston.
Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (03/1972-04/1972).
Arranger: Don Sebesky.
Randy Weston's most popular record, this Lp (which he had mixed feelings about) features Weston not only on piano but electric keyboards. Backed by Don Sebesky arrangements and assisted by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and tenor-saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., Weston plays quite well on four of his compositions; best-known are "Ganawa (Blue Moses)" and "Marrakesh Blues." The music retains the African feel of most of Weston's latter-day playing but also has some commercial touches that do not hurt the performances. This rewarding date has not yet been reissued on CD. ~ Scott Yanow