Persistence

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Michael Weiss will celebrate 40 years of living and working in NYC next year; a major milestone in a city full of brilliant jazz pianists. One of the busiest pianists and composers in jazz, Michael was a key member of the Johnny Griffin quartet for over 15 years, and is himself entering the status of jazz legend alongside some of his peers. A true double threat as a dazzling pianist along with a thoughtful and deep composer, Michael was recognized early on as a bright light in jazz, having won the BMI Thelonious Monk composer competition and place second in the Monk International Jazz Piano competition. With these accolades, it is fitting that Michael and the quartet choose to cover the Monk classic 'Epistrophy' on this fantastic album, his debut for Cellar Music Group. In addition to the nod to Monk, Michael selects 4 of his original compositions on his Cellar Music Group debut, coupled with some lesser known standards by Jimmy van Heusen and Antonio Carlos Jobim, finished off with the Fats Waller staple, Jitterbug Waltz. The band for this recording is truly stellar. Eric Alexander is himself one of the great instrumentalists of his generation, and the perfect foil to Michael on this exciting recording. Paul Gill and Pete van Nostrand are veterans of the New York jazz scene and the feeling of joyful swing and near-kinetic interplay are immediately apparent from the first song. Together, this quartet of burning New York jazz veterans bring a sophistication and soul to the recordings that can only be attained from decades of playing in the jazz capital of the world. Persistence is an apropros title for an album of musicians who have never given up on the mastery of their instrument, or this music.

REVIEW
It’s entirely appropriate that one of Michael Weiss’ signature compositions is titled “Apres Vous,” as the pianist has mostly made a name for himself as a sideman with many jazz luminaries. He’s backed Art Farmer, George Coleman, Benny Golson, Junior Cook, and Slide Hampton; most notably, he spent more than a decade backing the great saxophonist Johnny Griffin. In addition, he used to play with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

These tenures have given Weiss a sophisticated approach to the millennial-era hard-bop piano. He’s neither a revivalist nor a classicist, but rather a virtuoso who continues to dive into harmonic textures and melodic structures in search of beauty and surprise. On Persistence, a concise, eight-track program of originals and standards, he finds plenty. His stellar band includes saxophonist Eric Alexander, another player more often heard as a sideman than a leader, plus bassist Paul Gill and drummer Pete Van Nostrand.

The band’s rapport highlights the title track, a convivial, up-tempo piece that never feels rushed. It’s especially evident in Alexander’s solo as Weiss alternately pushes and lays back in his accompaniment and Van Nostrand adds catchy rhythmic flourishes. It sounds like an insightful roundtable discussion with instruments doing the talking. During their sprightly and nimble take on “Apres Vous,” the solos stand out, especially Weiss’ richly textured improvisations and Alexander’s fervent, blustery licks. The quartet turns Fats Waller’s “Jitterbug Waltz” into a jaunty, gleeful mid-tempo romp. They also scale the mountain that is Thelonious Monk’s “Epistrophy,” putting their own assertive stamp on it with Alexander’s pithy lines and the leader’s elegant flourishes headlining the accomplishment. Weiss and his bandmates demonstrate that although he doesn’t record as a leader often, he makes these outings count.

Martin Johnson --JazzTimes '. as good a demonstration of blues phrasing as can be heard in jazz'
Ben Ratliff --The New York Times .Simply a smashing, feel good set, music like this keeps the arteries running smoothly. Well done.

Chris Spector --Midwest Record review

Number of Discs: 1

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