Since arriving in New York in 1982, pianist, composer, arranger and educator Michael Weiss has forged a formidable career working in the bands of jazz legends Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath and the Heath Brothers, Charles McPherson, Jon Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, and the Junior Cook/Bill Hardman Quintet. Weiss' fifteen year association with Griffin, yielded four recordings and annual tours in the USA and around the world. He has also performed with Joe Henderson, George Coleman, Woody Shaw, Clark Terry, Clifford Jordan, Gary Bartz, Phil Woods, Pepper Adams, Joe Lovano, Ron Carter, David Newman, Gerry Mulligan, Nancy Wilson, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Wynton Marsalis, and other high profile jazz recording artists. Weiss also has substantial big band experience: With the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Weiss has logged nearly 700 engagements and two recordings over the past 25 years. He has also toured with the Mingus Epitaph Orchestra and Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra....
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Since arriving in New York in 1982, pianist, composer, arranger and educator Michael Weiss has forged a formidable career working in the bands of jazz legends Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath and the Heath Brothers, Charles McPherson, Jon Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, and the Junior Cook/Bill Hardman Quintet. Weiss' fifteen year association with Griffin, yielded four recordings and annual tours in the USA and around the world. He has also performed with Joe Henderson, George Coleman, Woody Shaw, Clark Terry, Clifford Jordan, Gary Bartz, Phil Woods, Pepper Adams, Joe Lovano, Ron Carter, David Newman, Gerry Mulligan, Nancy Wilson, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Wynton Marsalis, and other high profile jazz recording artists. Weiss also has substantial big band experience: With the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Weiss has logged nearly 700 engagements and two recordings over the past 25 years. He has also toured with the Mingus Epitaph Orchestra and Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.
As a band leader, Weiss has headlined at the Village Vanguard, Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit Symphony Hall, Smithsonian Institution, and major New York venues such as Merkin Concert Hall, the Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Birdland, Bradley’s, Iridium and Sweet Basil. Reviewing his Vanguard debut, the New York Times wrote that Weiss "demonstrated a strong sense of leadership and organization" exhibiting "sensitivity and logic, along with crisp control." Television appearances include CBS-TV’s Nightwatch with Charlie Rose and PBS’ Live From Lincoln Center: The City of Jazz. NPR radio appearances include PianoJazz with Marion McPartland, Making the Music with Wynton Marsalis, Jazzset, and the Jazz Piano Christmas Special. Weiss was a 1989 prizewinner in the Thelonious Monk Institute's International Piano Competition.
As a composer Weiss is a two-time Doris Duke/Chamber Music America New Works grant recipient and was the grand prize winner of the 2000 BMI/Thelonious Monk Institute's Composition Competition presented to him by Wayne Shorter.
Weiss' four recordings as a leader on the CrissCross, SteepleChase, DIW and Sintra labels have been hailed by the critics. His 1987 debut, Presenting Michael Weiss was Stereo Review's "Best of the Month." His recording, "Soul Journey" features a collection of nine original compositions for septet:
"Weiss' shrewd writing and arranging skills are 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
“the songs simply smoke” – Detroit Free Press
"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
“About as close to perfection as a recording can get....If there is truly justice in our world, this should be a Grammy nominee.” – Jazz Improv
"A prodigious bop-and-beyond pianist and composer.... consummate musicianship and alluring improvisations" – The Star Ledger
“This music lives and breathes freshness and exhilarating originality. The individual selections are strong and attractive enough, to still be played as jazz vehicles in 10, 20, or even 50 year’s time.” – Jazz Journal
As a sideman Weiss appears on recordings of Johnny Griffin, Frank Wess, Charles McPherson, Steve Grossman, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Ronnie Cuber, Louis Smith, Dick Oatts and others.
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