David Weiss Sextet, Auteur Review

David-Weiss-Jazz-Sensibilities-Feature

David Weiss Sextet, Auteur Review

by Icrom Bigrad

David-Weiss-Jazz-Sensibilities-cdDavid Weiss’ Auteur, the latest release with his sextet, hits with the force of a well-honed ensemble ten years in the making. This album, crafted by musicians rooted in the evolution of modern jazz, highlights Weiss’ original composition and an ensemble that speaks in a language of the jazz lineage. The seven-track collection, released on September 20, 2024, through Origin, shines with Weiss’ signature blend of unrecorded historical gems and new material.

Opening with “Too Little, Too Late,” Weiss offers us a powerful post-bop composition. The track crackles with the intensity of its lineup: Myron Walden’s alto saxophone is attention-grabbing with melody-driven motivic ideas that break into lyrical streams. Weiss follows with a trumpet solo constructed with fluidity and momentum, as his melodies snake through bop traditions with undeniable agility. Tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover brings a modern voice into the presentation, balancing intervallic edges with a contemporary nuance and bop embellishments. Pianist David Bryant’s assertive presence adds richness to his modern jazz solo and well-voiced comping.

This shared history is also tangible in “Resilience (for George),” Weiss’ tribute to George Cables, a pianist and frequent inspiration. Here, the ensemble crafts a layering of rhythmic textures and interactive parts that feel natural. The playful exchanges between Strickland’s drums and Wheeler’s bass push each soloist as the ensemble works to shape the music to form decisive ebbs and flows. Weiss’ trumpet exemplifies this narrative, threading through the harmony with a clarity that resonates with modern jazz. The dialogue within the ensemble feels intuitive and is based on conversation, being at the heart of jazz.

“The Other Side of the Mountain” is one of the more free-flowing compositions, beginning with an open, rubato ensemble passage. As the track unfolds, the sextet draws on Coltrane-esque passion, weaving collective improvisation with thematic exploration. The track captures the spirit of discovery, as each musician stretches into moments of expression that converge seamlessly back into the overall conversation. The title seems almost a metaphor for Weiss’ vision of jazz: an ongoing climb where mastery is elusive, but the journey is the reward.

Freddie Hubbard’s previously unrecorded “Rebop” brings another energetic expression point. Weiss’ long-standing connection to Hubbard adds depth here, as he interprets the piece with a hard-swinging performance, channeling the sound of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in a way that respects the past while enlivening the present. Strickland’s drumming is featured with its building rhythmic peaks and valleys that underscore the ensemble’s blazing performance. The tune bridges Hubbard’s legacy with Weiss’ own, connecting the unbroken lineage of the jazz trumpet language.

In “With Gratitude (for Wayne),” Weiss honors Wayne Shorter’s visionary legacy in three unfolding sections, each embodying a unique aspect of Shorter’s artistry. Strickland’s slightly funky, grooving undercurrents give the track a warm accessibility, while Weiss and Walden take turns exploring the melody with a sensitivity that feels reverent. The composition’s emotional range reflects Shorter’s own expansive contributions to jazz, drawing a line from past to present that gives the listener a palpable sense of gratitude.

The album closes with Slide Hampton’s “One For Bu,” a tribute to Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, which crackles with bop energy. Weiss’ horn arrangement is thick and brassy, reminiscent of the hard bop era yet carried by a contemporary verve. Each solo is compact yet expressive, displaying the musicians’ tight cohesion and mutual respect. The album’s pacing crescendos here leave listeners with a sense of exuberance and fulfillment, a testament to Weiss’s skill at building an experience that is as cohesive as it is exhilarating.

Auteur is a conversation between modernity and tradition. Weiss’ unflagging commitment to exploring bop’s evolving pathways results in a project that feels both timeless and alive with the pulse of contemporary jazz. This work exemplifies Weiss’ belief that mastery in jazz is never fully attained — only pursued, each step forward taken with the right collaborators. The sextet’s synergy, combined with Weiss’ curatorial touch, shapes Auteur into an album that not only builds on jazz’s legacy but thrives as a distinctive dialogue between its voices.

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