A handmade poster from a 1967 African tour. An invitation to a party at Duke Ellington’s Riverside Drive abode. A snowy practice session in the French Alps. On Monday, April 6th, the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library unveils a wide-ranging and visually rich exhibit celebrating the legacy of the powerful and prolific composer/pianist Randy Weston (1926-2018). Music on a Mission draws from Randy Weston recordings and papers, 1930-2018, an enormous collection of archival materials from all periods of Weston’s life and career. We invite you to explore the exhibit - and the collection - during Randy Weston’s centennial year!
Our curatorial team: Peter Laurence, Librarian for Recorded Sound and Media; Christina Linklater, Curator of the Isham Memorial Library; and Patricia O'Brien, Administrative Coordinator for Loeb Music Library.
TOUR AND CONCERT
Please join us on Sunday, April 12th at 2 p.m. for a special tour of the exhibit. Distinguished scholars and writers Willard Jenkins and Ingrid Monson, along with Weston’s widow, Mrs. Fatoumata Weston, will be present to answer questions and reflect on the items on display. Visit the event page for more information and to reserve free tickets for the tour.
Following the tour, attendees are invited to attend Blues to Africa: The Randy Weston Centennial at 4 p.m. in Paine Concert Hall. At this special concert honoring Weston’s contributions to the jazz canon, acclaimed pianists Vijay Iyer, Marc Cary, and Rodney Kendrick will explore and celebrate Weston’s powerful pianism and enduring musical legacy. Visit the event page for more information and to reserve free tickets for the performance.
The exhibit tour and concert will both occur in the Department of Music at Harvard University.