Michael Weiss (born 1958), is a jazz pianist and composer best known for his fifteen-year association with saxophonist Johnny Griffin. Weiss was born in Dallas, Texas. After completing a bachelor of music degree from

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universi ...

, Weiss moved to New York City in 1982. He toured that year with singer

Jon Hendricks John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and re ...

. He has worked with

George Coleman George Edward Coleman (born March 8, 1935) is an American jazz saxophonist known for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s. In 2015, he was named an NEA Jazz Master. Early life Coleman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was ...

, Art Farmer,

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

, Slide Hampton,

Tom Harrell Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, and arranger. Voted Trumpeter of the Year of 2018 by ''Jazz Journalists Association'', Harrell has won awards and grants throughout his career, including mul ...

Jimmy Heath James Edward Heath (October 25, 1926 – January 19, 2020), nicknamed Little Bird, was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. He was the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath. Biography Heath w ...

, Charles McPherson, and

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

. In 2000 he was the grand prize winner in the BMI/ Thelonious Monk Institute's Composers Competition. In 1989, he won second prize in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, and in 2002, he received a composition commission from

Chamber Music America Chamber Music America (CMA) is an American non-profit organization that provides small ensemble professionals with access to a variety of professional development, networking, and funding resources. CMA's regular initiatives include grants, awards, ...

. As a soloist and bandleader, Weiss has been featured on the television and radio programs ''

CBS News Nightwatch ''CBS Overnight News'' is an American overnight news broadcasting that is broadcast on CBS during the early morning hours each Monday through Friday. The program maintains a infotainment format, incorporating national, international and busines ...

'', ''

Live from Lincoln Center ''Live from Lincoln Center'' is a seventeen-time Emmy Award-winning series that has broadcast notable performances from the Lincoln Center in New York City on PBS since 1976. The program airs between six and nine times per season. Episodes of '' ...

'', ''Jazzset'', ''

Piano Jazz ''Piano Jazz'' is a weekly one-hour radio show produced and distributed by National Public Radio (NPR). It began on June 4, 1978, and was hosted by jazz pianist Marian McPartland (1918–2013) until 2011. It is the longest-running cultural pro ...

'', and the ''Jazz Piano Christmas Special''. In addition to performing, composing and recording, Weiss has been committed to jazz education throughout his career. Weiss presented a New York tribute concert to

Horace Silver Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver (September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, particularly in the hard bop style that he helped pioneer in the 1950s. After playing tenor saxophone and piano at sc ...

, who he credits as "one of his earliest and longest lasting influences."

Critical response

Writing about Weiss's album ''Soul Journey'' in ''All About Jazz'', Dan McClenaghan said, "It's the songs, though, that star on Soul Journey. And though Weiss doesn't call attention to himself as an instrumentalist, additional listens reveal a richness to his own solos, a smooth and understated eloquence." Reviewing ''Soul Journey'' for ''All About Jazz'', Chris Hovan said, "What will come as a revelation is the transformation that the pieces have made now that they’ve been fleshed out even further by Weiss for this larger ensemble." Writing for ''Jazz Review'' of a performance by

, in which Weiss played panio, Ben Ratliff said, "With the band playing beautifully behind him, he played a set like many he has played before, ... The set had tentative moments, but he ended fully on his feet, and it was as good a demonstration of blues phrasing as can be heard in jazz." Writing a review of the album ''Power Station'' for ''Jazz Times'', Sid Gribetz said, "Weiss is an excellent pianist who plays bebop and hard-bop lines with elegance and precision. He has a deft touch and swinging rhythmic sense, with the right dollop of funk and soul." Gribetz went on to mention Weiss's long association with Johnny Griffin.

Discography

As leader

* ''Presenting Michael Weiss'' ( Criss Cross, 1986) * ''Power Station'' ( DIW, 1998) * ''Milestones'' ( SteepleChase, 2000) * ''Soul Journey'' (Sintra, 2003) * ''Persistence'' (Cellar Live, 2022)

As sideman

With

* ''Take My Hand'' ( Who's Who in Jazz, 1988) * ''The Cat'' (

Antilles The Antilles (; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Antiy; es, Antillas; french: Antilles; nl, Antillen; ht, Antiy; pap, Antias; Jamaican Patois: ''Antiliiz'') is an archipelago bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the south and west, the Gulf of Mex ...

, 1990) * ''Dance of Passion'' (Antilles, 1992) * ''Johnny Griffin & Steve Grossman Quintet'' ( Dreyfus, 2000) With Frank Wess * ''Body and Soul'' (Grave News, 2005) * ''Once Is Not Enough'' (Labeth Music, 2009) With

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra The vanguard (also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. History The vanguard derives fr ...

* ''

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'' (Planet Arts, 2008) * ''Forever Lasting – Live in Tokyo'' (Planet Arts, 2011) With others *

Georgie Fame Georgie Fame (born Clive Powell; 26 June 1943) is an English R&B and jazz musician. Fame, who had a string of 1960s hits, is still performing, often working with contemporaries such as Alan Price, Van Morrison and Bill Wyman. Fame is the on ...

, ''Cool Cat Blues'' (Blue Moon/Bean Bag Entertainment, 1991) * Nathen Page, ''The Other Page'' (1991, Hugo's Music) * Charles McPherson, '' First Flight Out'' (

Arabesque The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is "Foli ...

, 1994) *

Ronnie Cuber Ronald Edward Cuber (December 25, 1941 – October 7, 2022) was an American jazz saxophonist. He also played in Latin, pop, rock, and blues sessions. In addition to his primary instrument, baritone sax, he played tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet ...

, ''N.Y.C.ats'' (SteepleChase, 1997) *

Doug Raney Doug Raney (August 29, 1956 – May 1, 2016) was an American jazz guitarist. He was the son of jazz guitarist Jimmy Raney. Career Raney was born in New York City. He began to play the guitar when he was 14, beginning with rock and blues. He was ...

, ''Back in New York'' (SteepleChase, 1997) * Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, ''Big Band Treasures Live'' (1997,

Smithsonian Folkways Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was fo ...

) * Louis Smith, ''The Bopsmith'' (SteepleChase, 2001) *

Eszter Balint Eszter Balint (born 7 July 1966) is a Hungarian-American singer, songwriter, violinist, and actress. Biography Eszter Balint was born in Budapest, Hungary, to Marianne Kollar and Stephan Balint. She was living with the avant-garde Squat Theatre ...

, ''Mud'' (

Bar/None Bar/None Records is an independent record label based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Early history Tom Prendergast started Bar/None in early 1986 in Hoboken, New Jersey. Having previously worked in pirate radio and booked and promoted bands in his n ...

, 2004) *

Dick Oatts Richard Dennis Oatts (born April 2, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. Biography While growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Oatts gained an interest in music from his father, Jack Oatts, who was a sa ...

, ''Two Hearts'' (SteepleChase, 2010)

References

External links

MichaelWeiss.info
- Official website {{DEFAULTSORT:Weiss, Michael 1958 births Living people Post-bop pianists Hard bop pianists American jazz composers American male jazz composers American jazz pianists American male pianists Musicians from Dallas Indiana University alumni 20th-century American pianists Jazz musicians from Texas 21st-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians The Jazztet members