|
THE HEALERS
When an African
musician touches an instrument, it becomes an African instrument
THE HEALERS
In ancient Africa, the art of healing through the spiritual knowledge
played an important role in societies, and this is still going on today.
We often happen to become out of tune with nature and this is when we need
to harmonize ourselves with its spiritual forces that guide us. Music, the
sacred art, the universal language from the beginning of time, has been a
healing force that projects the beauty of life. « The Healers » is a
healing song.
BLUES ANTILLAIS
The blues with the calypso beat - My recent tour in Guadeloupe and
Martinique, is what the music of this composition is attempting to
reflect. The beauty of nature in those islands and the warmth of the
people gave me some very special vibrations.
BLUE MOSES
Blue Moses is adapted from the rhythms and melodies of a religious song «
Sidi Mussa » (Arabic for Moses), one of the spirits evoked by an Islamic
brotherhood of the Gnawa (All the North Africa rhythms patterns have a
spiritual identity. Each identity has its color — Sidi Mussa's color is
blue). There a number of these brotherhoods in North Africa. The Gnawa
originated in West Africa and most of its members are black. There are
groups in Mali and among the Hausa in Northern Nigeria whose music rhythms
and rituals are similar to those of the Gnawa in Morocco and Tunisia. The
music of the Gnawa, which is orally passed down from generation to
generation and is heard through out Morocco. The instruments used vary in
different areas, but generally the Gnawa use the « gembree » : a musical
traditional instrument which sounds somewhat like a string bass — the «
kakobars » : which sounds like cymbals, and various others kinds of drums
and hand-clapping.
NITE IN M'BARI
My musical version of my second visit to Nigeria in 1963. I had the
pleasure to perform with Nigerian musicians such as Bobby Bensen and Fela
A. Kuti, in Lagos. Also for the first time I played with five Nigerian
drummers at Bobby Bensen's Caban Bamboo nite club. It was really
fantastic. In the city of Ibadan, I performed a trio concert with Steve
Rhodes, on bass and Bayo Martin on drums, at the Cultural Center named
M'Bari.
A PRAYER FOR US ALL
In 1977, I spent one month in Lagos (Nigeria) to participate in the world
famous Festac Festival « 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and
Culture ». Music, theatre, dance, architecture, literature, sculpture,
paintings... from 60 countries in the world. Festac was a meeting of
African people including 20.000 African Artists. I became so inspired by
this incredible musical experience that I wrote a new African suite. The
last theme of this suite is « A prayer for us all », a prayer for the
African people all over, to give us the spiritual strength to regain our
unity and awareness of ourselves as the first civilization of our planet,
to prepare ourselves spiritually for the future.
NITE IN MEDINA
I had a tremendous success in Morocco in 1967, with my sextet consisting
of Ray Copeland (trumpet and arranger), Clifford Jordan (tenor sax and
flute), Vishnu Wood (bass), Ed Blackwell (drums). Chief Bay (African
drummer and singer). Later I returned to Morocco and lived there. This
composition was inspired by walking through the medina in Rabat, at three
O'clock in the morning. Hardly any light but a full beautiful! Moon, many
shadows! Apprehension, a little fear, yet a feeling of peace and
mystery...
A special thank to the
Gnawa of Tangier
(Dar Gnawa),
whom I spent much time with and learned a great deal about music.
1980 Randy Weston
|
|
|
|
