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Randy Weston at the Berkshire Museum May 29, 2010

Randy Weston African Rhythms; Photo: Ariane SmolderenBerkshiresJazz presents Randy Weston in concert at the Berkshire Museum, (directions to Berkshire Museum) in Pittsfield, MA on Saturday May 29, 2010, 8PM. After nearly a 10-year absence, NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston returns to the place of his discovery, The Berkshires, for a career retrospective.

About Randy Weston

Employed as a young cook in Lenox, Massachusetts, Weston would often walk over to the renowned jazz resort/retreat called Music Inn, where he would play the piano after hours. Proprietress Stephanie Barber encouraged the young Brooklynite to pursue a career in music, and pursue he did. With a jazz resume that spans some 55 years, Weston has dozens of recordings and compositions to his name.

Randy Weston; photo: Carol FriedmanAs a budding professional jazz pianist, and as an accomplished world traveler and performer, Weston frequently stayed in the Berkshires for rest and creative inspiration. Acknowledging The Berkshires’ special place in his heart, visitors to Randy Weston’s websiteare treated to the sounds of his most famous composition, one that has become a jazz standard, Berkshire Blues.

His awards and distinctions are many, and were capped in 2001 with his designation as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts. He reflects on his musical groundings in a special concert, accompanied by bassist Alex Blake, at the Berkshire Museum on Saturday, May 29.

Video: Randy Weston African Rhythm Trio

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2009 festival videos, photos, and review

Richard Houdek review of Dave Brubeck’s Pittsfield CityJazz Festival performance

Richard Houdek review of Dave Brubeck's Pittsfield CityJazz Festival performance.This is a scan of Richard Houdek’s review of Dave Brubeck’s Pittsfield CityJazz Festival performance, published in the Berkshire Eagle, October, 21, 2009. See enlarged view.

Video of Dave Brubeck at rehearsal with the Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble

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Video of royal hartigan blood drum spirit opening the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, Oct. 7, 2009 at the Berkshire Athenaeum

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Photos of the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival on Flickr

 

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2008 festival photos

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2007 festival photos

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    • The Jazz Session #149: Roger Kellaway March 8, 2010
      Roger Kellaway has always refused to be labeled. His career covers jazz and classical composition and performance, as well as work in the television and film industries. Kellaway recently released the 2-CD set Live At The Jazz Standard (IPO, 2008). In this interview, Kellaway talks about playing in a piano trio without drums; working in [...] […]
      Jason Crane