Search - Walt Weiskopf :: Song For My Mother

Wow

03/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I defy you to listen to the title cut the Outsider on your personal cd player and not completely well up with emotion. The tune, the arranging and his hard edged yet emotional playing--it shows you that there are jazz artists out there that can give you something meaningful without pretense and over complicated line. Check out Pat Metheny's comments about him. The best artists know who's really good. Joel's work is outstanding too. Nearly all the cuts are winners. Walt's playing is influenced by Coltrane but you also hear a little of Larry Schneider's influence. The rest is Walt. May he continue to develop and move us."

When will Walt Weiskopf get the recognition he deserves?

Erik Werkman | Utrecht, Netherlands | 12/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Walt Weiskopf is still not recognized by the public nor by the jazz critics as one of the major contemporary forces on tenor sax. Unfortunately and unjustfully, as his playing, composing and arringing talents are so evident and the evidence of his talent already have been proved many times. Especially worthwile are his efforts for the Dutch label Criss Cross, for which he has produced six albums so far, varying between the quartet, quintet, sextet and nonet format. This is one of his two nonet albums ("Siren" is his latest release) and a good example of Weiskopf's chops. His Coltrane derived sound is very recognizable with a nice edge to it and all his own, his compositions ànd arrangements carefully crafted but sounding simple in essence and most of the time highly melodic and original. His solos are concise and in service of the songs. "Outsider" and "Song For My Mother" are best examples of what he is capable of: a perfect unison of melody, arrangement and musicianship from all involved. His fellow musicians on this date are great too and one can hear that they have worked together for some time now. The outstanding rhythm section deserves special mention: his brother Joel Weiskopf on piano, Peter Washington on bass and Billy Drummond have been Walt's longtime partners and rightly so. Add to that the perfect sound recording and you will not be surprised that this album comes highly recommended. Check out "Simplicity" (in sextet format) and do not forget to check out "A World Away" (tenor-guitar-organ-drums format) too."