''African Cookbook'' is an album by

Randy Weston Randolph Edward "Randy" Weston (April 6, 1926 – September 1, 2018) was an American jazz pianist and composer whose creativity was inspired by his ancestral African connection. Weston's piano style owed much to Duke Ellington and Thelonious M ...

's African Rhythms. The set of quintet performances was recorded in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

, France. It was released by Comet Records in 1969. The title track was inspired by the playing of tenor saxophonist

Booker Ervin Booker Telleferro Ervin II (October 31, 1930 – August 31, 1970) was an American tenor saxophone player. His tenor playing was characterised by a strong, tough sound and blues/gospel phrasing. He is remembered for his association with bass ...

, who recorded with Weston between 1963 and 1966. Weston said: African Cookbook', which I composed back in the early '60s, was partly named after Booker because we (musicians) used to call him 'Book,' and we would say, 'Cook, Book.' Sometimes when he was playing we'd shout, 'Cook, Book, cook.' And the melody of 'African Cookbook' was based upon Booker Ervin's sound, a sound like the north of Africa. He would kind of take those notes and make them weave hypnotically.""Monterey '66"
Discography, Randy Weston African Rhythms website.

Track listing

''All compositions by Randy Weston except as indicated'' # "African Cookbook" - 14:06 # "A Night in Medina" - 4:43 # "Jajouka" - 6:06 # "Marrakech Blues" - 6:14 # "

Con Alma "Con Alma" is a jazz standard written by Dizzy Gillespie, appearing on his 1954 album ''Afro''. The tune incorporates aspects of bebop jazz and Latin rhythm, and is known for its frequent changes in key centers (occurring every two bars), while s ...

" ( Dizzy Gillespie) - 4:49 # "Afro Black" - 2:59

Personnel

– piano *Henry Texier – bass *

Art Taylor Arthur S. Taylor Jr. (April 6, 1929 – February 6, 1995) was an American jazz drummer, who "helped define the sound of modern jazz drumming".Watrous, Peter (February 7, 1995)"Art Taylor, 65, Jazz Drummer Who Inspired Young Musicians" ''The Ne ...

– drums *Azzedin Niles Weston,

Reebop Kwaku Baah Anthony "Rebop" Kwaku Baah (13 February 1944 – 12 January 1983) was a Ghanaian percussionist who worked with the 1970s rock groups Traffic and Can. Biography Baah was born on 13 February 1944, in Konongo, Gold Coast. In 1969, Baah perfor ...

– percussion

References

{{Authority control Randy Weston albums 1969 albums Polydor Records albums