Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Walt Weiskopf: Walt Weiskopf: Quartet Live

Walt Weiskopf: Walt Weiskopf: Quartet Live

By Doron Orenstein
May 3, 2011
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Besides being the tenor man onstage with

Steely Dan

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Steely Dan, Walt Weiskopf is first and foremost a prolific solo artist. With over 15 critically acclaimed recordings as a leader, Walt is not one to rest on laurels collected over the course of years, playing alongside legends such as

Buddy Rich

drums
1917 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Buddy Rich,

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra,

Toshiko Akiyoshi

piano
b.1929

" data-original-title="" title="">Toshiko Akiyoshi, and

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. As one of jazz music's foremost post-

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane voices on the saxophone, Weiskopf's tenor sounds uniquely vocal, almost wailing, and capable of burning a hole in the side of an armored truck. Like Coltrane, Weiskopf boasts virtuosic command of the instrument as evidenced in his complex, flurried, and gimmick-free solos.

That Weiskopf is a saxophonist's saxophonist is evidenced by recording his first live album at the bi-annual North American Saxophone Alliance convention. Playing to a crowd that's not easily impressed, the quartet packs its punch, courtesy of Weiskopf's stellar compositions and arrangements bolstered by the backing of a world-class rhythm section. Due to the untimely passing of the quartet's brilliant drummer,

Tony Reedus

drums
1959 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Reedus, Walt Weiskopf: Quartet Live is dedicated to the man and his legacy. Offering a harmonically rich backdrop along with nimble-fingered and inventive solos,

Renee Rosnes

piano
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Renee Rosnes' piano glimmers across the sonic spectrum with grace and subtlety, while Reedus and bassist

Paul Gill

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Gill hold down a rock-solid groove.

The unpredictability of Weiskopf 's compositions is striking. Kicking off the album is "Man of Many Colors," which sounds like an acoustic version of a tune that could be found on a

Weather Report

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Weather Report album. However, once the melody ends, the no-nonsense, straight-ahead burning begins. The medley, consisting of Rosens' "Dizzy Spells" and Weiskopf's "Jay Walking," explores beatific melodic terrain atop the chord progression of the jazz standard "Con Alma." The group stretches even further with "Scottish Folk Song," with its shades of the distinctive folk-jazz heard on seminal European record label ECM. These original tunes, combined with a few standards, lead to an album that is a delicious concoction of blowing session and compelling compositional showcase.

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Track Listing

Man of Many Colors; Little Minor Love Song; Dizzy Spells / Jay-Walking; Blues in the Day; Scottish Folk Song; Blame It on My Youth; Love for Sale; Breakdown.

Personnel

Walt Weiskopf

saxophone

Walt Weiskof: tenor saxophone; Renee Rosnes: piano; Paul Gill: bass; Tony Reedus: drums.

Album information

Title: Walt Weiskopf: Quartet Live | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Capri Records

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