“he can focus the intensity in a tune as well as any pianist in mainstream jazz.”
– New York Times
“Weiss’ shrewd writing and arranging skills are as clearly in view as his sleek piano work”
– The New Yorker
“An energy and irrepressible inventiveness… The nimbleness of Weiss’ technique was
matched by the intellectual heft of his ideas.” – Chicago Tribune
“Weiss’ compositions take on different shapes, great complexity and fresh perspectives”
– Washington Post
“One of the most fluent and flexible pianists of his generation.” – BMI Music World
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, George Coleman, 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, 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: He spent 25
years as a regular pianist with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, logging nearly 700
engagements and two recordings. He has also toured with the Mingus Epitaph
Orchestra and Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.
As a band leader, Weiss has headlined at the Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit Symphony Hall,
Smithsonian Institution, and major New York venues such as the Village Vanguard,
Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Birdland, Bradley’s, Iridium, Sweet Basil, Smoke and Merkin
Concert Hall. 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 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’ compositions
reveal eclectic influences from the worlds of jazz, 20th Century classical and even rock.
Weiss focuses on extended forms, thematic development and attention to detail. “A
greater percentage of composition in the mix is crucial to keeping Jazz moving forward,”
explains Weiss. “The solo after solo bit on the same chord changes is becoming a worn
out model. This doesn’t mean giving up on jazz’s foundations. I’m interested
in incorporating improvised solos within a piece like characters in a play or perhaps as
the narrator between scenes. I’m always looking for fresh ways to expand my material.”
Weiss’ five 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 has a rich palette of composing devices at his command” – Downbeat
“Weiss’ original compositions conjured a distinct world of sound, a testament to the
nature of Weiss’ imagination.” – Chicago Tribune
“Warmth, integrity and above all, originality. Weiss’ originals are formful and dynamic
enough to sound as if they were standards of the genre.” – JazzTimes
“the songs simply smoke” – Detroit Free Press
“Weiss is a vital talent with something important to say” – All About Jazz
“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, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and others.
Weiss is deeply committed to jazz education. He has held faculty positions at Indiana
University, Hartt College of Music, Queens College. In master classes and residencies
throughout the world Weiss aims to relay his bandstand experience through a host of
topics that directly address the standards and performance practices required of a
professional jazz musician.