THE ADVENTURES OF RANDY WESTON For the last several years I’ve been thoroughly immersed in the deep, broad and multi-faceted challenge of working with pianist-composer Randy Weston on his autobiography. I’m very happy to say that our book, African Rhythms: the autobiography of Randy Weston, composed by Randy Weston, arranged by Willard Jenkins, after our [...]
What’s Up with Sumi Tonooka? Pianist-composer Sumi Tonooka, a native of Philadelphia, has always been a very thoughtful artist with an exceptional touch at the keyboard and an uncommon cultural sensitivity based in equal parts on her diverse background and growing up in one of the crucibles of jazz. She has always kept good company so it was [...]
TIME TO SPLIT… Well good people, the Jenkins Family sojourn — more like a furlough to be sure — to New Orleans has concluded and we are back home in the DC area. In September Suzan Jenkins’ tenure as the new CEO of the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (MD) commenced. This new position [...]