This post is by Scott and Dan
Recorded on June 4, 1989
Randy Weston's contributions to the jazz canon are extensive, ranging from his first recordings in 1954 to his death in 2018 at age 92. Although maturing during the bebop and post-bop eras, he always constructed original works based largely on African and Carribean rhythms. He visited Africa on numerous occasions to perform but also to absorb the musical traditions of the region.
These influences are clearly apparent in his portraits of Duke Ellington on Caravan. Ellington, of course, was also interested in music from other lands so Weston's tributes capture this aspect of Duke's vast body of work. There are only six cuts on Caravan, but they successfully reflect different facets of Ellingtonia.
The title tune develops slowly over a hushed rustling of percussion that turns into an exotic portrait of a caravan procession over its 12 minutes. "Heaven" is, well, a "heavenly" piano solo graced with luscious chords. Side 1 of the LP concludes with "Sepia Panorama," an easy-swinging trio performance that captures Duke's spirit. It's a long piece (11:32) with palpable group interaction.
Side 2 continues with "Limbo Jazz," which has a strong Carribean feel that reflects Weston's Jamaican ancestry. Eric Asante's drum solo is magnificent. "C-Jam Blues" is faithful to its composer's theme while using percussion to provide new insights into this most familiar Ellington classic. The album ends with "Chromatic Love Affair," an infrequently played Ellington composition. It's a beautiful work that should be played more often.
Asante is a relatively unknown jazz artist. He has the alias of Officer Toro with recording credits for a 1970s Ghanaian funk band. His African percussion is most distinctive and solidifies the direction in which Weston wanted his tribute to go.
Jamil Nasser was born George Joyner and played bass in Ahmad Jamal's trio in the 1960s and 1970s. He fits well with Weston's concepts and makes good use of his solo opportunities, most notably on "Chromatic Love Affair" where he carries the front line during much of the second half of the tune.
Caravan is part of a trilogy of albums recorded in 1989 with the same trio. The others are Portraits of Thelonious Monk - Well You Needn't and Self Portraits - The Last Day. They were released as a 3-CD set in 2006 by Universal Music France.
Although we have not compared the CDs to the original LPs, we speculate that the CDs are better sonically. With run times of approximately 50 minutes for each album, LP grooves need to be spaced closer together, which compromises the sound a little. They are all recorded digitally, so an original analogue version does not exist. Fortunately, streaming and downloading of these gems are available.
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