The Deborah Weisz Quintet is happy to announce the release of their second CD, "Grace," featuring special guest, chromatic harmonica player/composer Olivier Ker Ourio. Led by veteran trombonist/composer Deborah Weisz, this longstanding New York-based ensemble includes tenor saxophonist/flautist Andrew Sterman, guitarist Sheryl Bailey, bassist Nicki Parrott and drummer Eric Halvorson.
"Grace," the long-awaited follow-up to 1997's "Breaking Up, Breaking Out," is dedicated to Ms. Weisz' late brother Will, and features her original compositions, works by band members (Sterman, Bailey, Ker Ourio), the standard "Body and Soul," and "Touch," by Weisz mentor Jim McNeely, who writes...
"Deborah Weisz has developed a personal voice as both trombonist and composer/arranger. Assisted here by an excellent group of musicians, she makes a powerful statement on the potential of modern small-group jazz. This is strong stuff that kept me engaged the whole time!"
What critics have written...
"The title track ("Grace"), a requiem for her brother, touches on a range of emotions, anger, sadness, resignation, and ultimately acceptance and celebration of the life lived...the kind of piece where I feel in the end that I've been in touch with another human's emotions. Weisz supplements her own five compositions with five from other sources, including "Body and Soul"...present(ed) as a three-way conversation with Sterman, Ourio and herself, all slowly twisting the strands of the melody__it's a lovely, fresh take. The listener is left impressed by Weisz' work as a composer, trombonist, and bandleader."
David Dupont - Cadence Magazine, March 2006, pgs. 125-126
"...a smart ensemble effort that tacks just left of center, with conviction and cohesion. Compositionally, Weisz owns up to her main influence: the pianist Jim McNeely...but she also reaches for a groovy light avant-gardism subtly informed by Ornette Coleman and the AACM. It helps that Weisz has assembled a solid and sympathetic band...its core is the somewhat unusual sonic combination of trombone, saxophone (Andrew Sterman) and guitar (Sheryl Bailey);...still, it's Weisz who commands the spotlight; she's the engine behind this unassuming success."
Nate Chinen - JAZZTIMES December 2005
"Beginning with its reverent yet fun loving title cut, Grace (for Will), the new CD from trombonist Deborah Weisz' eclectic quintet, is a delight. Weisz has assembled a wonderfully intermeshing group of musicians to interpret newly composed music motivated by significant events and people in her life. Along with her communicative t-bone, two of NYC's most expressive and versatile musicians, guitarist Sheryl Bailey and bassist Nicki Parrott, aid in delivering a varied program of creative music that swings, bops and stretches boundaries in intriguing ways."
Elliot Simon - AllAboutJazz—New York, No. 43 November 2005
For more info/reviews please visit Deborah's website
http://www.deborahweisz.com
Read more...