Music From the New African Nations Featuring The Highlife

Recorded in 1963 and originally released on Colpix, "Highlife" was one of Randy Weston's first declared homages to African music and heritage. A direct fruit of his first trip to Nigeria in 1961, the album is considered one the highpoints in Weston's long and articulated career. Beautifully arranged by the great Melba Liston, the music reveals the unbroken relationship between the African ancestral sensibility and the Afro-American Jazz experience. Under the direction of Melba Liston and pianist Randy Weston here we have a first class group of musicians including heavyweights such as Ray Copeland - trumpet, Jimmy Cleveland, Quentin Jackson - trombones, Julius Watkins - French horn, Aaron Bell - tuba, Budd Johnson - Booker Ervin - saxophones, Peck Morrison - bass, Charlie Persip, Frankie Dunlop - drums, Archie Lee and George Young - percussion. One of the greatest Pan-African vision examples in music!