Sistas’ Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue, at the corner of Jefferson Avenue, where Jazz: A Music of the Spirit Lives and Culture is our Weapon, is in its 24th season with the music of Resistance, Resilience and Resurgence.

On Saturday, February 8th, at 9 and 10:30 pm, we continue our African American History Month Celebrations with the African Rhythms Band in Tribute to Randy Weston led by saxophonist T.K. Blue, with bassist Alex Blake, African percussionist Neil Clarke and pianist Sharp Radway.

It’s been well over a year since the Great Randy Weston left the planet. He left a wealth of music and an incredible group of musicians who he brought together and who stayed together for several decades. This Saturday, they will come together, once again, in his honor.

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Sistas’ Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue, at the corner of Jefferson Avenue, where Jazz: A Music of the Spirit Lives and Culture is our Weapon, continues its 23rd season with the music of Resistance, Resilience and Resurgence.

On Saturday, May 11th at 9 and 10:30 pm, the 20th Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival at Sistas’ Place presents pianist/composer Rodney Kendrick in our final Tribute of the season to Randy Weston. Rodney Kendrick’s Ensemble features vocalist Rhonda Ross, trumpeter Rasheed Howard, guitarist Kelvyn Bell, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, drummer Taru Alexander and percussionist Abdou Mboup. Mr. Kendrick has the distinction of having performed a duet concert with the great Randy Weston and as well he performed an amazing rendition of one of Mr. Weston’s compositions at the memorial held at Saint John the Divine, last year. This will be his first time performing at Sistas’ Place and it promises to be something special. So, make reservations.

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Make Reservations at (718) 398-1766!

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Front Photo by Antonio Porcar Cano (2017)

Sistas’ Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue, at the corner of Jefferson Avenue, where Jazz: A Music of the Spirit Lives and Culture is our Weapon, continues its 23rd season with the music of Resistance, Resilience and Resurgence.

On Saturday, April 6th, at 9 and 10:30 pm, Chief Neil Clarke’s Trio Plus, with vibraphonist Bryan Carrott, bassist Alex Blake and Khuent Rose playing steel pan performs African Rhythms Moods & Methods, in Tribute to Dr. Randy Weston on his 93rd Arrival Day. As has been stated, Baba Randy Weston was a true friend of Sistas’ Place. With Neil Clarke leading this ensemble we have another opportunity to honor his memory and contribution. Don’t Miss This!

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Photo by Suga in My Bowl.

Sistas’ Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue, at the corner of Jefferson and Frederick Douglass Square, where Jazz: A Music of the Spirit Lives and Culture is our Weapon, is in its 28th year with the music of Resistance, Resilience, and Resurgence. Sistas’ Place is a Historic Landmark Institution!

On Saturday, April 6th @ 7:30 pm, we hold a special tribute to Randy Weston. It is also a fundraiser for Sistas’ Place. Come hear Sharp Radway in a solo performance BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO RANDY WESTON.

Make reservations, call (718) 398-1766 now! Don’t Miss This!!!

Randy Weston grew up in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, becoming friends with musicians like jazz pianist Thelonious Monk. In his late 20s, Weston decided to devote himself to playing the same instrument.. He has traveled throughout the world, incorporating numerous influences into his playing. He comes to the New Hazlett Theater with his African Rhythms Quartet on Sat., Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. Call 1-888-718-4253 for info.

You have said you feel like you’re a storyteller, not a jazz musician. Can you elaborate on that?
Well, my wonderful travels in the world are because of music. And music is the star, not Randy Weston. And music is spiritual. It’s taken me from Bed-Stuy growing up, to the black church, the blues, [playing in a] big band and all over Asia and Africa. So I tell stories about my experiences, about African-American culture, African culture and the spirituality in music itself.
I spent seven years in Africa. I traveled to 18 countries in Africa. I looked at the oldest musicians I could find, the oldest music I could listen to. When we grew up as kids in Brooklyn, we always hung out with our elders, you see? So I tell stories of these great people before us: my mom, my dad, going all the way back to African civilization.

What was it like, meeting these musicians?
They’re very traditional people. They’re all in tune with nature, the universe, the galaxy. They have a different concept of music. But they also keep the stories alive of their particular society. So I feel it makes you understand better, [questions like] who was Louis Armstrong, who was Duke Ellington? They were not only great musicians, with the music they played, they told the story of African-American life in the ’20s, in the ’30s, in the ’40s. That’s why they were storytellers. So I try to pass on that tradition and respect and love of those artists that came before me, who sacrificed a lot to produce this music that we call jazz or blues or samba, reggae whatever.

Can you call your music “jazz”?
Jazz doesn’t really give the full story. What have African people contributed to the US? America is so young, compared to most countries on the planet. So what we call jazz in African-Americans’ contribution to the United States. So if you look at it that way, it gives you the understanding, also the genius and the spirituality of all these people. How do they do what they do? How do they make music out of a broom, out of a bottle? In Africa, people make music out of anything. For them, music is the voice of the creator.
And I think about my mom and dad. How did they keep us so spiritual? They made sure we went to church every Sunday. They made sure we were spiritual, made sure we had our pride, our dignity, no matter what. So they are the heroes. [Laughs}
That piano teacher that was 50 cents a lesson and hit my hands with a ruler if I made a mistake. She made sure I practiced that piano!
I want everybody to understand more about what African people have contributed to America. I think if they understand that, we’d have a different approach of who we are, what we did, despite all the slavery and the racism. But all the beauty that we gave, it’s amazing.
I was lucky to have known Duke Ellington. I knew Count Basie. I met Billie Holiday and shook Louis Armstrong’s hand. I shook Mahalia Jackson’s hand. In my life I’ve been so blessed to meet these people that have never been given the proper credit for what they’ve given to America.

Did you know Thelonious Monk well?
I hung out with him! In the beginning, I didn’t understand what Monk was doing. But then I heard something. I met him and we hung out for about three years. I’d pick him up at his house in Manhattan and bring him back to Brooklyn, we’d go to places. He never said much, but his music…. For me, you can’t call this music jazz. This music is in touch with the ancient civilizations, the galaxies, the planets. By hanging out with him, I understood better [stride pianist] James P. Johnson, Ellington, all the people that preceded him, the history of piano. So the further you go back, you realize how humble you have to be today. And how they did what they did. It’s a miracle.
Ironically, I never heard a musician say to another musician, “We’re going to go play some jazz.” Interesting, huh? Instead, [they’ll say], “We’re going to play Duke’s music or Billie Holiday’s music or Benny Goodman’s music.” We never use the word.

You didn’t start playing piano professional until you were in your late 20s. How come?
Well you can understand why. People like Art Tatum and Earl Hines and Nat Cole and Duke! Erroll Garner — all those people [were] around. So to call yourself a pianist, you gotta be careful! That was royalty.
I used to go to [1920s ragtime pianist] Eubie Blake’s house and hang out with him. We’d go hear Willie “The Lion” Smith [another stride pianist who had been playing since the ‘20s]. Those people. You call yourself a pianist, you better be quiet! [laughs]
And if they were alive today, I’d be a little boy. Not to mention Bud Powell. There were all those people who played this music and did it a different way. Earl Hines did it this way, Monk this way, Count Basie this way. On the same instrument! So that’s why it took me a long time to decide to be a professional musician.

When you play with the African Rhythm Quartet, how do you plan a set?
We always try to bring on some of the traditional rhythms of Africa. So people can feel where it’s come from. I spent years with the people of Morocco, the Gnawa. They were taken in slavery. So they maintain a very powerful spiritual music.
From there, maybe we’ll go to the blues. But we’re just trying to tell a story of the history of African music. At the same time we all come from the motherland, everybody on the planet. It’s a combination of all those things.
I always tell the audience, “You’re a part of this band, because we’re going to take the trip together.” By the magic of music, it’s amazing how you look at the audience and see all the shades of the rainbow. Different colors, genders and ages. When the music is right, everybody becomes in tune with the music.

Original article: http://www.pghcitypaper.com/FFW/archives/2013/10/23/extended-interview-randy-weston

On Friday, April 8, 2016 Jazz 966, joined by Sistas’ Place, the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium and Up Over Jazz Productions, are throwing an All Star Musical Birthday Tribute to Brooklyn’s own NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston. Randy’s contributions in music and culture span the African Diaspora from Bed-Stuy to Africa to travelling around the world showcasing African Rhythms.

Joining in to pay tribute so far are Kenny Barron, Donald Smith, Sonny Fortune, Jimmy Owens, Winard Harper and Robin Kelley. Very limited seating available; tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Call to purchase tickets (718) 398-1766.

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Randy @ 90
Press Release
(718) 398-1766

Sistas’ Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue, Frederick Douglass Square (formerly Nostrand & Jefferson Avs.), where Jazz: A Music of the Spirit Lives and Culture is our Weapon, is in its 29th year with the music of Resistance, Resilience, and Resurgence. Sistas’ Place is a Historic Landmark Institution!

On Saturday, May 23, 2024, Sistas’ Place welcomes the Randy Weston Tribute Band.

Reservations are a must — call (718) 398-1766  (no credit card required). Walk-in tickets are $35 and first come, first served.

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