Eberhard Weber's medical condition

[Dennis Gonzalez]

A friend wrote to say that he got word that Jan Garbarek did not use Eberhard Weber on this latest tour because Weber apparently suffered a stroke and can't play. When I wrote the editors at Jazz Podium, the German Jazz magazine, to ask, this was the response I got:

Dear Dennis Gonzalez,

Eberhard Weber is recovering.
Please ask Anselm Cybinski from ECM Records Munich for details.
Anselm.Cybinski@ecmrecords.com

Yours sincerely
Gudrun Endress


JAZZ PODIUM Verlags GmbH
Vogelsangstr. 32
70197 Stuttgart
Germany

Anybody know anything? Does anyone from ECM monitor these threads?

[rene]

This is sad news.

Wishing Eberhard Weber a speedy recovery!

[Ron Thorne]

This is very sad news, indeed.

We just had an enjoyable, spirited exchange of favorite Eberhard Weber recordings recently, too.

All best wishes for a quick, complete recovery!

[Nitya]

Since we have not heard anything about EW for awhile I wrote ECM and here is my response:

Ich bin weg, aber am Mittwoch, 1. August, wieder am Platz. Mails werden in unregelmäßigen Abständen gelesen. Zentrale: 089 / 85 10 48

Google translation:

I am away, but on Wednesday, 1 August, again at the place. Mails are read in irregular distances. Central one: 089/85 10 48

[Ron Thorne]

Here's some recent news on Eberhard's condition, this from Steve Lake at ECM, posted on the Ask ECM thread recently.

Steve Lake
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 36

[Nitya]

If you have seen the other thread you know I am in Norway at Punkt Festival this wekend. I asked Jon Hassell about Weber. He is not in good condition. The stroke was massive and he is still paralyzed on his left side. Will take a long time for him to recover. At least he left us a large body of work to enjoy. If you are religious pray or meditate for his recovery. if not send him good thoughts.

[Nitya]

Correction it was Mathias Kolwe of JAZZ ECHO that told me about Weber. it's the sleep deprivation from jet lag and just too much fun.

[orangefunk]

man... thats terrible to know he is paralyzed...

I was only just listening to Colours of Chloe this morning on the mp3 player...

[Morthrablethrockmorten]

Has there been anymore word on Eberhard's condition?
I know we all wish the best for him

[Lisa-Adam]

It is important here and in features of the case cited below to understand how a fixed ground-radar paints on the ECM monitor scope as the reconnaissance

[Nitya]

WTF does this have to do with our dear Eberhard Weber!!!!

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by Nitya

WTF does this have to do with our dear Eberhard Weber!!!!

Nothing, of course.

Any worthwhile news?

[Nitya]

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Nothing, of course.

Anybody contact Anselm Cybinski from ECM Records Munich lately?

[wjl]

Originally Posted by Nitya

Anybody contact Anselm Cybinski from ECM Records Munich lately?

Hi,

yes, after reading all this here I wrote to Mr. Cybinski today on German to ask about the health and status of Mr. Eberhard Weber:

Hallo Herr Cybinski,

ich möchte Sie gerne fragen wie es Herrn Weber geht. Bitte richten Sie
ihm aus, daß an ihn gedacht wird, auch in
http://speakeasy.jazzcorner.com/spea...ad.php?t=20416

Ich selbst höre gerade Jan Garbarek's "Visible World", spiele selbst
Bass und bin sehr betrübt über die "Neuigkeiten" bezüglich Herrn Weber's
Gesundheitszustand, die ich über Wikipedia erfuhr, in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eberhard_Weber

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Wolfgang Lonien

However, after writing that email, I also found this post-stroke interview with Eberhard Weber on another page. From the interview:

At the end of our interview, Eberhard Weber spoke about his stroke and rehabilitation, and offered advice to his fellow musicians.

My left-hand side was totally paralyzed—I couldn’t do anything. I went through some therapies and now I can walk again, with a stick. I try to play, but my left hand makes lots of problems. I play for maybe ten minutes and then start to get frustrated, so I walk around for ten minutes and then come back—interval training. Then I show the therapist what I need to do, and he corrects my arm or my fingers or gives advice. Musically I don’t need advice, but physically and mentally, I do.

As you might know, a stroke is not just a muscle situation; it’s a nerve situation. You have to build new nerves, which also means you have to learn anew how to do things. Suddenly you have to think, How does one walk? Which foot goes first? How high do you lift it? And so on. It’s nerve-racking, and it requires patience, patience, patience. That’s the keyword for me.

[Musicians] should not smoke so much. They should watch their blood pressure. And they should be aware. I did not know what a stroke was, what the symptoms were. I just walked out of an elevator and my left foot was a bit awkward. I thought, What is this? I didn’t think of a stroke, but I should have, because when you get medication within the first three hours, you might get through it without being paralyzed.

I'd still like to hear more from him. Maybe I'll post something about those Garbarek albums I like so much, just to say thanks to guys like Mr. Weber (and, of course, also to girls like Marilyn Mazur).

HTH,
Wolfgang

[Nitya]

Thank you so much for the thoughtful and timely post. I am attending Punkt Festival in Kristiansand, Norway. Many musicians that know Eberhard will be there. It is rumored Jan Garbarek may be there as an unannounced guest.

Nitya
SomaFM

[Ron Thorne]

Thanks so much for the update, Wolfgang.

As someone who lost a family member today via a stroke, it's timely news, indeed.



Get well, Eberhard!

[The Owl]

WOW!!!

This is really surprising news for me! Eberhard has long been a favorite bassist of mine (was just listening to Ralph Towner's "Solstice" the other day with him on bass and spooky sounding cellos).

Best wished to Eberhard for a speedy recovery and being able to play again.