Pianist and composer Michael Weiss leads his trio at the Kitano New York on Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26. Accompanying Weiss are bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Lewis Nash.
The Kitano is located at 66 Park Avenue. Set times are 8:00pm and 10:00pm. There is a $25 cover charge and a $15 minimum. For reservations and more information: (212) 885-7119.
Weiss's recent New York appearances include his first week-long engagement as the leader of his own trio at the Village Vanguard last April and a week in June at the Vanguard as a member of Lou Donaldson's quartet. Weiss also served as musical director for the June benefit performance for the late Ronnie Mathews at Sweet Rhythm.
After years of leading larger groups at the Vanguard, Kitano, Jazz Gallery and Smalls, Weiss has returned to the trio format, recalling his many engagements at Bradley's from 1989 to 1992.
While Weiss still loves to draw from his unusually deep knowledge of jazz tunes and standards, his repertoire since the mid '90s has leaned toward his original compositions, which favor a meticulous attention to detail, rich harmonic schemes, formal ingenuity and imaginative melodic and rhythmic development. Still, while his writing has become fleshed out with a broader range of ideas and influences, Weiss' improvisations have never shed his bop-oriented roots. For this engagement, Weiss will focus on his originals with a number of standards mixed in.
MORE BACKGROUND:
A native of Dallas, Texas, pianist and composer Michael Weiss's extensive resume includes work with Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Frank Wess, Slide Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, the Jazztet, Lou Donaldson, Charles McPherson, Von Freeman, George Coleman, Joe Wilder, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Junior Cook and Bill Hardman. Weiss made his Village Vanguard debut as a leader in 2006 with his quintet. Reviewing the ensemble's performance, New York Times critic Nate Chinen praised Weiss' composing, playing and bandleading skills, noting that “he demonstrated a strong sense of leadership and organization." Chinen also wrote that Weiss was “a confident and sometimes sparkling presence on piano" and that his playing exhibited “sensitivity and logic, along with crisp control."
Groups led by Weiss have performed at the Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Stanford Jazz Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, NPR's “Jazzset," and in New York at the Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Jazz Gallery, Smoke, WNYC and WQXR. In 2000, Weiss was awarded the BMI/Monk Institute Composers Competition grand prize, presented to him by Wayne Shorter for his piece, “El Camino," which appears on Weiss' latest CD, “Soul Journey." With influences as varied as Scriabin, Szymanowski and Shorter, Weiss' compositions focus on extended forms, thematic development and attention to detail. In 2003 Weiss was a recipient of the Doris Duke/Chamber Music America New Works grant, for which he wrote the suite “Three Doors."
Weiss has recorded four albums as a leader, including “Soul Journey" (Sintra), “Milestones" (Steeplechase), “Power Station" (DIW) and “Presenting Michael Weiss" (Criss Cross). He has also recorded widely as a sideman, including four CDs with Johnny Griffin and dates with Charles McPherson, Frank Wess, Ronnie Cuber and others.
“A prodigious bop-and-beyond pianist and composer.... consummate musicianship and alluring improvisations" - The Star Ledger
“An articulate and polished pianist" - New York Times
“Shrewd writing and arranging skills as clearly in view as his sleek piano work" - The New Yorker
“Weiss has a rich palette of composing devices at his command" - Downbeat
“Warmth, integrity and above all, originality" - JazzTimes
“Weiss is a vital talent with something important to say" - All About Jazz
“Weiss' compositions take on different shapes, great complexity and fresh perspectives" -- Washington Post
The Kitano is located at 66 Park Avenue. Set times are 8:00pm and 10:00pm. There is a $25 cover charge and a $15 minimum. For reservations and more information: (212) 885-7119.
Weiss's recent New York appearances include his first week-long engagement as the leader of his own trio at the Village Vanguard last April and a week in June at the Vanguard as a member of Lou Donaldson's quartet. Weiss also served as musical director for the June benefit performance for the late Ronnie Mathews at Sweet Rhythm.
After years of leading larger groups at the Vanguard, Kitano, Jazz Gallery and Smalls, Weiss has returned to the trio format, recalling his many engagements at Bradley's from 1989 to 1992.
While Weiss still loves to draw from his unusually deep knowledge of jazz tunes and standards, his repertoire since the mid '90s has leaned toward his original compositions, which favor a meticulous attention to detail, rich harmonic schemes, formal ingenuity and imaginative melodic and rhythmic development. Still, while his writing has become fleshed out with a broader range of ideas and influences, Weiss' improvisations have never shed his bop-oriented roots. For this engagement, Weiss will focus on his originals with a number of standards mixed in.
MORE BACKGROUND:
A native of Dallas, Texas, pianist and composer Michael Weiss's extensive resume includes work with Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Frank Wess, Slide Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, the Jazztet, Lou Donaldson, Charles McPherson, Von Freeman, George Coleman, Joe Wilder, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Junior Cook and Bill Hardman. Weiss made his Village Vanguard debut as a leader in 2006 with his quintet. Reviewing the ensemble's performance, New York Times critic Nate Chinen praised Weiss' composing, playing and bandleading skills, noting that “he demonstrated a strong sense of leadership and organization." Chinen also wrote that Weiss was “a confident and sometimes sparkling presence on piano" and that his playing exhibited “sensitivity and logic, along with crisp control."
Groups led by Weiss have performed at the Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Stanford Jazz Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, NPR's “Jazzset," and in New York at the Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Jazz Gallery, Smoke, WNYC and WQXR. In 2000, Weiss was awarded the BMI/Monk Institute Composers Competition grand prize, presented to him by Wayne Shorter for his piece, “El Camino," which appears on Weiss' latest CD, “Soul Journey." With influences as varied as Scriabin, Szymanowski and Shorter, Weiss' compositions focus on extended forms, thematic development and attention to detail. In 2003 Weiss was a recipient of the Doris Duke/Chamber Music America New Works grant, for which he wrote the suite “Three Doors."
Weiss has recorded four albums as a leader, including “Soul Journey" (Sintra), “Milestones" (Steeplechase), “Power Station" (DIW) and “Presenting Michael Weiss" (Criss Cross). He has also recorded widely as a sideman, including four CDs with Johnny Griffin and dates with Charles McPherson, Frank Wess, Ronnie Cuber and others.
“A prodigious bop-and-beyond pianist and composer.... consummate musicianship and alluring improvisations" - The Star Ledger
“An articulate and polished pianist" - New York Times
“Shrewd writing and arranging skills as clearly in view as his sleek piano work" - The New Yorker
“Weiss has a rich palette of composing devices at his command" - Downbeat
“Warmth, integrity and above all, originality" - JazzTimes
“Weiss is a vital talent with something important to say" - All About Jazz
“Weiss' compositions take on different shapes, great complexity and fresh perspectives" -- Washington Post
For more information contact All About Jazz.
