Khepera
Studio album by
Randy Weston
Released1998
RecordedMarch 1998
GenreJazz
LabelVerve[1]
ProducerRandy Weston, Brian Bacchus
Randy Weston chronology
Earth Birth
(1997) 		Khepera
(1998) 		Spirit! The Power of Music
(1999)

Khepera is an album by the American pianist Randy Weston, released in 1998.[2][3] The album was in part an exploration of the connection between African and Chinese cultures.[4] It is dedicated to Cheikh Anta Diop.[5] Khepera is Egyptian for transformation.[6]

Production

Recorded in March 1998, the album was produced by Weston and Brian Bacchus.[7][8] Min Xiao-Fen played the gong and pipa on two tracks.[9] Talib Kibwe played alto sax and flute; Benny Powell played trombone.[10][11] Melba Liston help to arrange the music.[12] Weston played many songs at a 6/8 time.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Birmingham Post[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[15]
Los Angeles Times[16]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[11]
The Sydney Morning Herald[17]

JazzTimes praised Weston's "uncanny ability to re-craft, to maintain freshness in melodies and rhythms he has investigated frequently, such as the familiar 'Niger Mambo'."[9] The Washington Post noted that "an Ellingtonian elegance marks the massed horns of the swinging 'Portrait of Cheikh Anta Diop'."[18] The Sydney Morning Herald stated that "the music has a breadth and density of emotion, spirituality, colour and creativity that push it towards masterpiece stature."[17]

The Globe and Mail concluded that "Min's performances aren't quite curios, but they're not a lot more either, one a sweet but inconclusive pipa-piano duet and the other a nonet piece in which she makes only a buzzy cameo appearance."[19] The Los Angeles Times applauded the "particularly effective linkage" of Powell and Pharoah Sanders.[16] The National Post deemed Khepera "a fiendishly clever romp through African rhythms, Chinese melodies and '60s jazz tonalities."[20]

AllMusic called the album "a powerful, even visionary piece of work for any musician," writing that Sanders is "in thrilling form throughout much of the album."[14]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Creation" 
2."Anu Anu" 
3."The Shrine" 
4."The Shang" 
5."Prayer Blues" 
6."Boran Xam Xam" 
7."Portrait of Cheikh Anta Diop" 
8."Niger Mambo" 
9."Mystery of Love" 

References

  1. ^ Lien, James (January 1999). "Best New Music". CMJ New Music Monthly (65): 18.
  2. ^ Margasak, Peter (April 18, 2002). "Randy Weston". Chicago Reader.
  3. ^ Monson, Ingrid (October 18, 2007). "Freedom Sounds: Civil Rights Call Out to Jazz and Africa". Oxford University Press, USA – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b Bacon, Peter (November 14, 1998). "RANDY WESTON Khepera". Birmingham Post. p. 34.
  5. ^ Mandel, Howard (December 1998). "Randy Weston: Khepera". Jazziz. 15 (12): 78.
  6. ^ Simon, Jeff (November 13, 1998). "JAZZ". The Buffalo News. p. G34.
  7. ^ Panken, Ted (October 1998). "African soul". DownBeat. 65 (10): 20–25.
  8. ^ Weston, Randy; Jenkins, Willard (October 5, 2010). "African Rhythms: The Autobiography of Randy Weston". Duke University Press – via Google Books.
  9. ^ a b Jenkins, Willard. "Randy Weston: Khepera". JazzTimes.
  10. ^ Point, Michael (October 15, 1998). "Jazz Masters". Austin American-Statesman. p. 10.
  11. ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 808.
  12. ^ Chapman, Geoff (November 28, 1998). "African jazz adventure". Entertainment. Toronto Star. p. 1.
  13. ^ Bernotas, Bob (May–June 1999). "Randy Weston: Khepera". Piano & Keyboard (198): 50.
  14. ^ a b "Randy Weston Khepera Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. pp. 601–602.
  16. ^ a b Heckman, Don (January 3, 1999). "Not Easy Listening, Rewarding Listening". Los Angeles Times. p. F66.
  17. ^ a b Shand, John (May 24, 1999). "A masterful hybrid". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
  18. ^ "RANDY WESTON 'KHEPERA'". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Miller, Mark (November 12, 1998). "KHEPERA". The Globe and Mail. p. D4.
  20. ^ "JAZZ". National Post. January 19, 1999. p. B9.
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