Michael Weiss

Excellent Interview.

When he was at his worst, he was one of the very very very best.

I worked at the Flamingo Lounge with the Junior Cook/Bill Hardman Quintet dozens of times. There was an upright piano there. No organ in the club. So from the information you've provided there's no reason not to assume BJP didn't play just because there wasn't an organ there. It's not a record date, just a joint with a piano. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=177304842700839

Jazzwax Review: https://www.jazzwax.com/2020/08/michael-weiss-soul-journey.html

A great photo posted by Peter Erskine from when he and Steve were kids at a summer camp: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10108350397568165

Nice to see Pittsburgh put a landmark desgnation outside the Crawford's Grill building. https://www.google.com/maps/place/2141+Wylie+Ave,+Pittsburgh,+PA+15219/@40.4455016,-79.9778487,3a,75y,320.54h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sxpi2e3nw2JYsYR3nuL0BIQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dxpi2e3nw2JYsYR3nuL0BIQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.gws-prod.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D86%26h%3D86%26yaw%3D320.53622%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x8834f3d90846c81d:0xd9f7cca8f86471b5!8m2!3d40.4456979!4d-79.9780834

I forgot about that. Only thing I remember is how few people attended and Mingus entering and leaving the stage several times - do I have that right? He obviously knows what he's doing and obviously competent. I guess "arranger's piano" skills could mean, with limited piano technique, an ability to voice quality chords under a melody with voicings spread across both hands. Maybe with less of an ability to play single lines - soloing or otherwise. Johnny Griffin played at least that well IIRC. I enjoyed this clip. Jack DeJohnette was a pianist before he took up the drums. One drummer I know who plays the shit out of the piano and could easily compete with any pianist is Finnish drummer Jukkis Uotila.

Heard this first around 1980. Creation is the only melody of Trane I ever heard in 7/8 - at least the opening theme. This is my cellphone's ringtone.

He used to come by the Jazz SHowcase every time I played there with Griff. Nice guy. Sounds great on all the Sun Ra records. Great reminscing with Art Hoyle and James Scales about working with Sun Ra:

Copies are flying off the shelf. Hoping to maintain the monentum... https://www.analogplanet.com/content/pianistcomposerarranger-michael-weiss%E2%80%99s-long-soul-journey-vinyl

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/pianistcomposerarranger-michael-weiss%E2%80%99s-long-soul-journey-vinyl

Released July 15 as AAA double LP set. Michael Fremer's Review For sale here

Soul Journey on LP is released today. For now I'm the sole retailer. Available via Paypal here: https://www.michaelweiss.info/recordings.htm All analog limited edition audiophile pressing. Engineer: Joe Ferla Mastering: Bernie Grundman Pressings: Gary Salstrom This kind of stuff means a lot to audiophiles. More importantly, try before you buy:

Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, the gig was cancelled. We're playing (with Joe Farnsworth) tonight at the Django and Saturday at the Side Door in CT. Hopefully Smoke will be rebooked.

Smoke Jazz Club, NYC March 12-15 GEORGE COLEMAN QUARTET Michael Weiss - piano John Webber - bass Al Foster - drums