Berkshire Blues Explained

Berkshire Blues
Type:Studio
Artist:Randy Weston
Cover:Berkshire Blues.jpg
Released:1977
Recorded:August 18 and October 14, 1965,
New York City
Genre:Jazz
Length:37:28
Label:Freedom
FLP 41026
Producer:Alan Bates, Duke Ellington, Ruth Ellington, Michael Cuscuna
Chronology:Randy Weston
Prev Title:Randy
Prev Year:1964
Next Title:Blues
Next Year:1965

Berkshire Blues is an album by American jazz pianist Randy Weston, recorded in 1965 and released on the Freedom label in 1977.[1]

The title track, in the waltz tempo characteristic of many Weston compositions, was written in 1962 and recorded in 1964 by the Randy Weston Sextet (on the album Randy), with Betty Carter later putting lyrics to the tune and performing it under the tile "Ego").[2]

Reception

AllMusic awarded the album 3 stars, with its review by Scott Yanow stating: "Throughout the set, Weston's solos hold on to one's interest, although the overall results are really not all that essential."[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Randy Weston except as indicated

  1. "Three Blind Mice" (Traditional) - 5:33
  2. "Perdido" (Juan Tizol) - 6:24
  3. "Purple Gazelle" (Duke Ellington) - 5:53
  4. "Berkshire Blues" - 4:14
  5. "Lagos" - 5:36
  6. "Sweet Meat" - 3:39
  7. "Ifran" - 5:37

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1965berkshireblues.html Randy Weston catalog
  2. http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1965berkshireblues.html Berkshire Blues liner notes
  3. Yanow, Scott, AllMusic Review, accessed August 16, 2012.