Brooklyn
April-2nd-2003, 11:20 AM
MICHAEL WEISS GROUP CELEBRATES RELEASE OF NEW CD "SOUL JOURNEY"
WITH SPECIAL APPEARANCE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 AT SWEET RHYTHM, NYC
The award-winning composer and pianist leads his top-of-the-line septet — Ryan Kisor, trumpet; Mike DiRubbo, alto saxophone, Adam Kolker, tenor saxophone, Paul Gill, bass; Joe Strasser, drums; Daniel Sadownick, percussion — through an evening of original material drawn from his critically acclaimed new album on Sintra Records
"Weiss’ compositions take on different shapes, great complexity and fresh perspectives." — Mike Joyce, Washington Post
"The songs simply smoke." –– Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
On the heels of the March release of "Soul Journey," Michael Weiss showcases his skills as a pianist, composer and bandleader by headlining an evening at Sweet Rhythm, 88 Seventh Avenue South on Wednesday, April 16th. Sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $12, cover charge; $10, minimum. 212-255-3626. On the web: www.sweetrhythmny.com.
One of the most respected pianists on the New York scene, Weiss has forged an expansive aesthetic that marries deep respect for the jazz tradition with a modernist’s commitment to make it new. The nine diverse compositions on "Soul Journey" range from thrilling steeplechase structures to beguiling Latin melodies to brooding contemporary ballads. Weiss’ personal sound world is defined by melodic integrity, harmonic richness, rhythmic surprise, expressive detail, formal ingenuity, intellectual honesty and emotional depth. Boston Herald critic Michael J. Ryan called the album "exceptional" in a recent review, awarding it a grade of nine out of 10. "Weiss is able to mesh simple, airy phrasing and intricate melodies to create a rich, full-bodied, expressive jazz statement," wrote Ryan. "His timeless playing reflects – but does not pander to – a rich history of legendary pianists." The All Music Guide’s Rick Anderson agrees. "****Four Stars. Pianist and composer Michael Weiss believes that the future of jazz lies in a closer integration of composition and improvisation… This kind of balance between innovation and accessibility is unusual in jazz, and it makes for an extremely interesting and enjoyable listening experience. … It is hard to imagine any serious jazz lover not being captivated by this album. Highly recommended."
The focused intensity and savvy interplay of Weiss’ group reveals the countless bandstand hours the layers have logged together since 1996. Among the group’s most important gigs have been concerts at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, the Blue Note in New York and an appearance on National Public Radio’s "Jazz Set." Weiss’ upcoming activities include a week in Switzerland with veteran saxophonist Frank Wess and a featured spot performing the music of Charlie Parker and Tadd Dameron in "A Tribute to the Royal Roost’’ at New York’s JVC Jazz Festival in June. Weiss is also at work fulfilling a prestigious grant from Chamber Music America to create a new work for his septet to be premiered later this year. This is the second major composition prize that Weiss has won. In 2000, he was awarded the Grand Prize in the BMI/Thelonious Monk Institute’s Composition Competition for "El Camino," one of the standout tracks on "Soul Journey." The song reveals the way Weiss folds composition and improvisation into an organic whole. Its expert tailoring fully exploits the sonorous potential of the trumpet, alto sax and trombone front-line and blends south-of-the-border rhythms with an active bass line, vivid harmonies and a lithe, through-composed melody adorned by an introduction, interludes, coda and background figures adding spice to the improvised solos.
Michael Weiss was born in Dallas on Feb. 10, 1958. Since arriving in New York in 1981, he has worked or recorded with such luminaries as Jon Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, Slide Hampton, George Coleman, Art Farmer, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz, Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, the Junior Cook-Bill Hardman Quintet, the Jazztet, the Mingus Epitaph Orchestra and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. In 1987 Weiss became Johnny Griffin’s regular pianist and has since recorded four albums with him. In addition, he appeared with Wynton Marsalis on "Live From Lincoln Center" on PBS and has appeared as a guest on Marian McPartland’s "Piano Jazz" on NPR.
Weiss has recorded three previous albums as leader, all of which have been hailed by critics. His debut, "Presenting Michael Weiss" (Criss Cross) was named a Stereo Review Best Recording of the Month in Oct. 1987. "Power Station" (DIW) made the Fanfare Critic’s Want List in 1998 and was a Top Five pick by Ira Gitler in Jazz Times in 1998; Gitler also named Weiss as one of the most underrated musicians in jazz in a 1997 survey. "Milestones" (SteepleChase) received 4 1/2 stars from Down Beat critic Zan Stewart in 1999.
WITH SPECIAL APPEARANCE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 AT SWEET RHYTHM, NYC
The award-winning composer and pianist leads his top-of-the-line septet — Ryan Kisor, trumpet; Mike DiRubbo, alto saxophone, Adam Kolker, tenor saxophone, Paul Gill, bass; Joe Strasser, drums; Daniel Sadownick, percussion — through an evening of original material drawn from his critically acclaimed new album on Sintra Records
"Weiss’ compositions take on different shapes, great complexity and fresh perspectives." — Mike Joyce, Washington Post
"The songs simply smoke." –– Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
On the heels of the March release of "Soul Journey," Michael Weiss showcases his skills as a pianist, composer and bandleader by headlining an evening at Sweet Rhythm, 88 Seventh Avenue South on Wednesday, April 16th. Sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $12, cover charge; $10, minimum. 212-255-3626. On the web: www.sweetrhythmny.com.
One of the most respected pianists on the New York scene, Weiss has forged an expansive aesthetic that marries deep respect for the jazz tradition with a modernist’s commitment to make it new. The nine diverse compositions on "Soul Journey" range from thrilling steeplechase structures to beguiling Latin melodies to brooding contemporary ballads. Weiss’ personal sound world is defined by melodic integrity, harmonic richness, rhythmic surprise, expressive detail, formal ingenuity, intellectual honesty and emotional depth. Boston Herald critic Michael J. Ryan called the album "exceptional" in a recent review, awarding it a grade of nine out of 10. "Weiss is able to mesh simple, airy phrasing and intricate melodies to create a rich, full-bodied, expressive jazz statement," wrote Ryan. "His timeless playing reflects – but does not pander to – a rich history of legendary pianists." The All Music Guide’s Rick Anderson agrees. "****Four Stars. Pianist and composer Michael Weiss believes that the future of jazz lies in a closer integration of composition and improvisation… This kind of balance between innovation and accessibility is unusual in jazz, and it makes for an extremely interesting and enjoyable listening experience. … It is hard to imagine any serious jazz lover not being captivated by this album. Highly recommended."
The focused intensity and savvy interplay of Weiss’ group reveals the countless bandstand hours the layers have logged together since 1996. Among the group’s most important gigs have been concerts at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, the Blue Note in New York and an appearance on National Public Radio’s "Jazz Set." Weiss’ upcoming activities include a week in Switzerland with veteran saxophonist Frank Wess and a featured spot performing the music of Charlie Parker and Tadd Dameron in "A Tribute to the Royal Roost’’ at New York’s JVC Jazz Festival in June. Weiss is also at work fulfilling a prestigious grant from Chamber Music America to create a new work for his septet to be premiered later this year. This is the second major composition prize that Weiss has won. In 2000, he was awarded the Grand Prize in the BMI/Thelonious Monk Institute’s Composition Competition for "El Camino," one of the standout tracks on "Soul Journey." The song reveals the way Weiss folds composition and improvisation into an organic whole. Its expert tailoring fully exploits the sonorous potential of the trumpet, alto sax and trombone front-line and blends south-of-the-border rhythms with an active bass line, vivid harmonies and a lithe, through-composed melody adorned by an introduction, interludes, coda and background figures adding spice to the improvised solos.
Michael Weiss was born in Dallas on Feb. 10, 1958. Since arriving in New York in 1981, he has worked or recorded with such luminaries as Jon Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, Slide Hampton, George Coleman, Art Farmer, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz, Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, the Junior Cook-Bill Hardman Quintet, the Jazztet, the Mingus Epitaph Orchestra and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. In 1987 Weiss became Johnny Griffin’s regular pianist and has since recorded four albums with him. In addition, he appeared with Wynton Marsalis on "Live From Lincoln Center" on PBS and has appeared as a guest on Marian McPartland’s "Piano Jazz" on NPR.
Weiss has recorded three previous albums as leader, all of which have been hailed by critics. His debut, "Presenting Michael Weiss" (Criss Cross) was named a Stereo Review Best Recording of the Month in Oct. 1987. "Power Station" (DIW) made the Fanfare Critic’s Want List in 1998 and was a Top Five pick by Ira Gitler in Jazz Times in 1998; Gitler also named Weiss as one of the most underrated musicians in jazz in a 1997 survey. "Milestones" (SteepleChase) received 4 1/2 stars from Down Beat critic Zan Stewart in 1999.