On the second of three quartet recordings (with bassist
Jamil Nasser, drummer
Idris Muhammad and percussionist Eric Asante) recorded on three consecutive days, pianist
Randy Weston plays six
Duke Ellington compositions. Other than "Caravan" and "C Jam Blues," the tunes are rarely performed ("Limbo Jazz" and "Chromatic Love Affair" are far from standards), allowing
Weston to construct inventive improvisations that do not borrow from the original recordings; even "Caravan" sounds fresh. All three of these releases (the others are a set of originals and a program of
Thelonious Monk tunes) are easily recommended to Randy
Weston's fans. ~ Scott Yanow