Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dan Weiss: Even Odds

Dan Weiss: Even Odds

By Mark Corroto
April 25, 2024
View read count

Drummer and composer

Dan Weiss

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Weiss turns his experiments and percussion exercises into compositions on this trio recording Even Odds. In other words, he composes, not on a piano, but with his drum kit for the twenty tracks heard here. That fact may not be groundbreaking except that Weiss recorded those tracks and sent the music to alto saxophonist

Miguel Zenon

saxophone, alto
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Miguel Zenon and pianist

Matt Mitchell

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Mitchell to contemplate before gathering in the studio to improvise in this overdubbed recording.

Weiss' experience with Z��non and Mitchell in both large and small ensembles certainly allowed him to trust his bandmates' creativity, working with his drum tracks in the studio. He demonstrates this with compositions such as "Recover The Mindset" a solo drum piece that is followed by "M And M" with Z��non and Mitchell affixing their sounds to the track. Same with the solo "Too Many Outs," followed by "Runner-Runner" and "Bribes and Ultimatums" coupled with "Royal Beatings." Weiss, a master musician has studied jazz, classical Indian, West African, and rock drumming. For instance, his ensemble Starebaby is his improvising take on heavy metal and he has also dipped a toe into doom—metal with the band Bloody Panda.

With Z��non and Mitchell, Weiss lays down the pulse and allows his partners to have at it. The music is though not without forethought. "Max Roach" pays homage to its namesakes drum accompaniment to

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker's "Klactoveedsedstene," with that persistent pulse upon the snare drum's rim. "Ititrefen," or

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti" spelled backwards, stealthy reconfigures the classic composition. Weiss translates a tabla sound to drums for "Nusrat" for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Z��non and Mitchell turn Weiss' pulses into a magic nostrum. Of the 20 tracks, six are traditional compositions, written and performed as a trio. "It Is What It Is" features quicksilver and angular sprint with all three musicians charging toward its resolution. The gentle and beautiful "Fathers And Daughters" trades in a folky classical vein and the sad grace heard during "The Children Of Uvalde," for the mass shooting in 2022, shifts into a beautiful lament. Weiss' music, call it an exercise or an experiment, nonetheless is engaging and magnetic music.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

It Is What It Is; The Children of Uvalde; Bu; Rising; Recover the Mindset; M and M; Horizontal Lifestyle; Vertical Lifestyle; Five to Nine; Ititrefen; Too Many Outs; Runner-Runner; Nineteen to the Dozen; Max Roach; Bribes and Ultimatums; Royal Beatings; Fathers and Daughters; Peculiar Pathos of Self Importance; Conversing With Stillness; Nusrat.

Personnel

Dan Weiss

drums

Miguel Zenon

saxophone, alto

Matt Mitchell

piano

Album information

Title: Even Odds | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Cygnus Recordings

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Don Was, divr, Roberto Gatto, Lucy W...
< Previous

New Music From Max Light, The Brenan...
Next >

Dan Weiss Concerts

Nov 21 Fri

Jon Irabagon Quintet

Firehouse 12
New Haven, CT

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.