Randy Weston & Billy Harper at Kamigamo Shrine, October 13th & 14th

When Randy Weston plays
a combination of strength and gentleness
virility and velvet emerges from the keys in an ebb and flow of sound
seemingly as natural as the waves of the sea

Langston Hughes

This is the big event for me this autumn: Randy Weston is returning to Kyoto to play two nights!

I last saw Randy Weston play here 4 years ago and was blown away by his vitality, profound talent and deep, deep, joyful tunes. Well played to the Lush Life family for organizing this again! If you like jazz, this is a must. If you’re not so keen, come along anyway and be converted!

About Randy Weston:
After contributing six decades of musical direction and genius, Randy Weston remains one of the world’s foremost pianists and composers today, a true innovator and visionary. Encompassing the vast rhythmic heritage of Africa, his global creations musically continue to inform and inspire. “Weston has the biggest sound of any jazz pianist since Ellington and Monk, as well as the richest most inventive beat,” states jazz critic Stanley Crouch, “but his art is more than projection and time; it’s the result of a studious and inspired intelligence…an intelligence that is creating a fresh synthesis of African elements with jazz technique”. [Randy Weston’s website.]

About Billy Harper:
Billy Harper is one of a generation of Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists who actually built upon the master’s work, rather than simply copy it. Harper is consummately well-rounded, able to play convincingly in any context, from bop to free. His muscular tone, lithe articulation, comprehensive harmonic knowledge, and unflagging energy define him as a saxophonist. He’s also possessed of an abundant imagination that connects directly to his blues and gospel roots. Though not as well-known as he might be, Harper is a jazz improviser of significant stature. [From allmusic.com. Visit Billy Harper’s site to find out more!]

Tickets are now on sale and must be booked in advance. You can either buy them direct from the Lush Life cafe, or reserve them via email. For reservation details please visit the Lush Life event page. Here are the event details:

Venue： Kamigamo Shrine “Kita Shinsensyo”
Date： October 13 (Sat), 14 (Sun)
Open： 17:00 Start： 18:00
Price: ￥7,000

LUSH LIFE Jazz cafe is located next to Demachiyanagi Station (Keihan & Eizan lines). You can read more about it here.

You can find information about Kamigamo Shrine here.