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Endangered Species: The Music of Wayne Shorter
(CD Release – David Weiss Web Page)
(Wayne Shorter Website)
With:
David Weiss: Director, Arranger, Trumpet.
Tim Green on Alto Sax
Marcus Strickland on Tenor and Soprano Sax
J.D. Allen on Tenor Sax
Norbert Stachel on Baritone Sax and Bass Clarinet
Elliot Mason and Joe Fiedler on Trombones
Jeremy Pelt and Augie Hass on Trumpet
Geri Allen on Piano
Dwayne Burno on Bass
Nate Smith on Drums
After-Hours Set:
Theo Hill Trio
With:
Theo Hill on Piano
Alexander Claffy on Bass
Kyle Poole on Drums
At
Frederick P. Rose Hall
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Broadway at 60th Street
NY, NY
212.258.9595
(Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola Website)
Roland Chassagne, Manager
Jason Olaine, Director of Programming & Touring
Desmond L. Prass, Asst. Manager
Michael Mwenso, JALC Curator & Programming Assoc.
L.A. Thompson, Venue Manager, Great Performances
Zooey T. Jones (with Erika Santucci) JALC Press
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
August 23, 2013
In April, 2012, an ensemble of the crème de la crème of jazz pros, steeped in the traditions and styling of Wayne Shorter, saxophonist and composer, recorded “Endangered Species: The Music of Wayne Shorter” at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Tonight’s second set was part of this week’s series of concerts to recreate that sound as a CD release event. The ensemble included David Weiss, as director and arranger, also grabbing his trumpet and joining in, Tim Green on alto sax, Marcus Strickland on tenor and soprano sax, J.D. Allen on tenor sax, Norbert Stachel on baritone sax and bass clarinet, Elliot Mason and Joe Fiedler on trombones, Jeremy Pelt and Augie Hass on trumpets, Geri Allen on piano, Dwayne Burno on bass, and Nate Smith on drums. The band was seasoned and cohesive, with tremendous timing and rapport. A few of the musicians replaced the originals, heard on the recording, but it must be next to impossible to get 12 jazz musicians together at any one time, with travel schedules and festivals in this busy end of summer.
Tonight’s musical highlights included Shorter’s “Nellie Bly”, “Fall”, and “Prometheus Unbound”, all tracks on the new CD, and “Second Genesis”, from Shorter’s 1960 Chicago album. The ensemble was wildly brassy and energized, even adding joking gestures for playful effect. “Nellie Bly” was filled with racing brassiness, drum flourishes, and repetitive piano chords. “Fall” presented a plaintiff trumpet solo, ambient, echoing piano chords, and a yearning, compelling melody. The saxophones and trombones were resounding and resplendent, and Weiss joined in on trumpet. Geri Allen’s piano solo was introspective and ethereal. Later on, as the set continued, Jeremy Pelt was prominently featured on his powerful trumpet. A tenor sax and drum duo ensued, atonal and up-tempo, and Dwayne Burno’s bass solo was poignant. In “Prometheus Unbound”, Geri Allen was featured before the band collectively created synthesized tones. Trumpets took the lead, with drums, piano, and bass in an explosive finale. The soprano sax took center spotlight in the final piece, while Weiss conducted from his side, trumpet position. The full brass contingent filled the club with a unified, vibrant sound.
The After-Hours set brought out the Theo Hill trio, with Theo Hill on piano, Alexander Claffy on bass, and Kyle Poole on drums. After the brassy vitality of the earlier set, it was a shift in mood and expectation when the compact trio took the stage. Or, so it seemed. Unexpectedly, this little group had an ebullient robustness, all its own, urged on by the vocal crowd. The music was contemporary and crisp, soon evoking a raging, pulsating caravan. Theo Hill’s piano took on the motif of several instruments, with astounding fullness and fervor. Hill’s piano turned moody and melodic, buoyantly leading drums and bass. Kyle Poole, a very youthful and rhythmic drummer, played with eagerness and energy, with an eye on Hill. A swing beat followed, with Alexander Claffy’s bass solo relaxed and bluesy. This au courant sound was interspersed with harmonies and dissonance, merging jazz and “new music”. Toward the end of this final set, a quiet, melancholy piece was introduced, a nurturing number for midnight. But, through audience request, the final piece was a raucous, turbulent, zippy blast.
Endangered Species: The Music of Wayne Shorter
Twelve-Piece Band, David Weiss, Conductor/Arranger
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Endangered Species: The Music of Wayne Shorter
Twelve-Piece Band, David Weiss, Conductor/Arranger
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Endangered Species: The Music of Wayne Shorter
Twelve-Piece Band, David Weiss, Conductor/Arranger/Trumpet
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Desmond Prass, Asst. Manager, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola,
Introduces the Theo Hill Trio.
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Theo Hill on Piano, Alexander Claffy on Bass,
Kyle Poole on Drums
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Theo Hill on Piano, Alexander Claffy on Bass,
Kyle Poole on Drums
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
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