LIVE at Piedmont Piano Company
David Weiss Sextet
Trumpet master, composer, and inventive arranger David Weiss brings his outstanding New York sextet to the West coast to promote his newly released recording, Auteur. The recording spotlights original music, never-before-recorded compositions from Freddie Hubbard and Slide Hampton. Praised by The New York Times and the Village Voice for his bold inventions over the years, Weiss’ music evokes emotional complexity — abundance and loss, the collateral beauty of pain — and transmits a deeply personal sound informed by his strong connection to hard bop, swing, and free improvisation traditions. David Weiss (trumpet), Myron Walden (alto sax), Michael Zilber (tenor sax), David Bryant (piano), Essiet Essiet (bass), and E.J. Strickland (drums).
$25 General Admission
We are offering a limited number of tickets to attend this performance in person. Advance purchase is recommended. Masking is encouraged but no longer required.
“The sextet skirts the outer reaches of straight-ahead jazz, innovating while drawing from tradition.” –Sharonne Cohen, JazzTimes
“…an expressive but underappreciated soloist… [Weiss’] masterful ensemble writing and rich horn voicings… remain with the listener.” –Bill Milkowski, The Absolute Sound
“It is quite clear and definitive that David Weiss, the scene setter, director and Auteur of this incredible recording, knew exactly the kind of provocative music he wanted to convey in his vision of a new world for bebop and does, so convincingly and compellingly.” –Edward Blanco, All About Jazz
DAVID WEISS - Trumpet
In a jazz climate that rewards neo-conservative tributes and far-flung exercises in deconstruction, David Weiss has distinguished himself another way: through finding flexibility and innovation in music that has its roots in the mainstream. The trumpeter, composer, and arranger has had the opportunity to learn from some of the music’s quintessential figures by touring and/or recording with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, Bobby Hutcherson, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Tom Harrell, Louis Hayes, Muhal Richard Abrams and Billy Hart among many others. davidweissmusic.com
MYRON WALDEN - Alto Sax
Multi- instrumentalist and 2 time Grammy nominated artist Myron Walden is one of the most important voices on Alto Saxophone of his generation.
He has recorded 15 albums as a leader and was an original member of the groundbreaking Brian Blade and The Fellowship Band. He has also worked in the bands of Freddie Hubbard and Ray Barretto and is currently a member of Esperanza Spalding's group.
Walden has performed with artists crossing many styles, genres and generations such as: Common, Diggable Planets, Talib Kweli, Will I Am, Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Nat Adderley, Jimmy Cobb, Queen Latifah, Lizz Wright, Andy Bey, Joe Williams, Diane Reeves, Jon Hendricks, Leslie Odom Jr., Kenny Kirkland, Jeff Tain Watts, John Patitucci, Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas , Daniel Lanois, Roy Hargrove, Phil Woods and many more…
MICHAEL ZILBER - Tenor Sax
California saxophonist and composer Michael Zilber is described by NEA Jazz Master David Liebman as “one of the best players and composers around anywhere. Period!” The Canadian-born ex-New Yorker has 13 albums to his name as a leader or co-leader. He has performed, toured and/or recorded with many jazz luminaries over the years, including co-leading and recording in groups with Liebman, Mike Clark, Steve Smith and John Stowell. Says ALL ABOUT JAZZ, “Zilber is one of the true masters of modern jazz saxophone, his prodigious talents evidenced by his recordings and live performances are truth.”
While in New York, Zilber worked with many lauded contemporaries, including Mark Feldman, Wayne Krantz, Rachel Z, James Genus, Rodney Holmes, Drew Gress, Dave Kikoski, Dave Douglas, Bruce Barth and numerous others. He also released his first CD, 1989’s The Heretic, on OWL/EMI featuring Gil Goldstein, Harvie S and Danny Gottlieb, as well as the OWL/EMI 1992 follow-up, Stranger in Brooklyn, with Liebman, Genus and Rachel Z.
After moving out to San Francisco, Zilber co-led a band with drumming great Steve Smith for eight years, releasing the top 20 recording Reimagined: Jazz Standards, Volume 1 in 2003. For the past decade, he has teamed up with guitar virtuoso John Stowell, most recently on 2016’s Basement Blues, which All About Jazz calls “as compelling and modernistic and compelling as any group out there,” hailing Zilber as “soulful and flawless”. Their 2015 Origin Records recording Live Beauty, made DownBeat magazine’s “best of the year” list for 2015. This was a follow-up to the group’s Shot Through With Beauty, which NPR jazz critic Andrew Gilbert picked as a top 10 record of the year.
Starting in 2018, Zilber formed a bi-coastal group with legendary New York drumming great, Mike Clark. The co-leaders released Mike Drop on Sunnyside Records of New York in the Summer of 2021 The recording reached the top 10 on the national Jazzweek charts and was named one of Downbeat's top CDs of the year. As All About Jazz raves, “A first encounter with saxophonist Michael Zilber in a live setting leaves a very large impression. Enshrouding the marvelous facility and deeply melodic approach to improvisation is “the sound” which allows the listener to receive the music in a soulful way.
DAVID BRYANT - Piano
Pianist/Composer David Bryant is a world-class artist garnering attention in the jazz scene. Few musicians today match the versatility, originality, and sensitivity that he brings to the music. He combines an extensive knowledge of the jazz tradition and other diverse musical idioms, as well an individualistic approach and sound. He is featured on records by Louis Hayes, Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Steve Davis, Myron Walden, Marcus Strickland, Jeremy Pelt, Camille Thurman and Jen Shyu, as well as the soundtrack for the George Clooney movie Leatherheads (2008). He has also performed with renowned musicians such as Roy Haynes, Dave Holland, Christian McBride, Kenny Wheeler, Delfeayo Marsalis, Bob Brookmeyer, Ravi Coltrane, Christian Scott, Thundercat, Esperanza Spalding, Queen Latifah and more.
In 2019, David relocated to Tokyo, where he continues to collaborate with top musicians, as well as establishing himself as a leader, performing with his bands at Japans too venues and festivals. In January 2024, David released his highly acclaimed debut studio album, Coat of Arms. His regular trio, Trismic, features top Tokyo musicians Marty Holoubek and Shun Ishiwaka, with special guest appearances by May Inoue and 'ermhoi.'
ESSIET OKON ESSIET - Bass
Essiet began his musical studies at age 10 on the violin and four years later, His family settled in Portland, Oregon where he began studying jazz at the age of 14. His early exposure to many cultures, languages, folkways and religions, fostered his world view of strength through diversity. "Some musicians are purists" says Essiet, "but I like to mix styles. I like many different types of cultures".
His first big break came in 1982 when he met Chicago based percussionist Famoudou Don Moye, a founding member of such important collectives as the Art Ensemble of Chicago and The Leaders. Moye asked Essiet to join his quartet and during that same year, Essiet met Abdullah Ibrahim, the famed South African pianist. Working with Ibrahim, Essiet toured the globe splitting his time between Europe and the US during the period from 1982 to 1986. Eventually Essiet settled in NYC and soon after, he joined Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and remained in the group until the famed drummer/teacher's passing in 1990.
Essiet has since gone on to perform and record with such notables as Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, James Moody, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Sam Rivers, George Adams, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Jackie McLean, Frank Morgan, Kenny Barron, Louis Hayes, Ben Riley, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Higgins, Billy Hart, Art Farmer, Abbey Lincoln, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Billy Cobham, Bennie Maupin, Eddie Henderson, Steve Turre, Jon Faddis, Bobby Watson, Victor Lewis, Kenny Garrett, Kenny Kirkland, Mulgrew Miller, Jeff Watts, Mike Stern, Kurt Elling, Geri Allen, and Ralph Peterson among many others.
E.J. STRICKLAND - Drums
E.J. Strickland is drummer, bandleader, composer, & educator of music has become a pillar of The New York Jazz Scene for over 20 years. The Miami native has toured, performed, & recorded with many artists such as Ravi Coltrane, Russell Malone, Marcus Strickland, Vincent Herring, David Weiss, Nnenna Freelon, & many others.
Strickland has 3 albums as a leader under his belt: In This Day (2009), The Undying Spirit (2015), & Warriors For Peace (2018) featuring the sound of his world traveled band The E.J. Strickland Quintet, which plays mostly his original compositions. In 2020, he received a grant from The Jazz Coalition to write a composition which he entitled “A Unified Stance, We Must Take”, a 6-movement suite dedicated to John Lewis.
In addition to being an in-demand drummer on the New York Jazz scene, he’s also a private teacher, ensemble coach, & masterclass clinician. He’s worked with students worldwide at the prestigious Banff International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music under the direction of Dave Douglas & Vijay Iyer, The University Of Manitoba, The University Of Connecticut, & New School For Jazz & Contemporary Music.
Armed with endless curiosity, a desire to connect with humankind, and the power of his sound, E.J. Strickland continues to clear a path for himself in the jazz world & beyond - a path that can only grow wider in the years to come.