EFG LONDON JAZZ FEST & BOPFEST: MICHAEL WEISS PIANO & IMPROVISATION MASTERCLASS

Giving his first ever masterclass in the UK, New York pianist Michael Weiss will lead a workshop aimed at all levels from beginner to professional and covering all aspects of comping, soloing and improvisation techniques, arranging, trio playing, and much more. This is aimed at both pianists and other instrumentalists, as well as vocalists.

Michael's commitment to jazz education is extensive. In addition to faculty positions at Queens College, Juilliard and the Hartt School of Music, Weiss' educational activities include serving as artist in residence in universities and secondary schools, presenting jazz workshops and master classes, at Jamey Aebersold and as an invited artist at IAJE conferences.

Since arriving in New York in 1982, pianist, composer, and arranger Michael Weiss has forged a formidable career working in the bands of jazz legends Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Benny Golson and the Jazztet, Slide Hampton, the Heath Brothers, Frank Wess, Charles McPherson, Jon Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, as well as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and Mingus Epitaph Orchestra. Weiss’ fifteen-year association with Griffin yielded four recordings and annual tours in the USA and around the world. He has also performed with Joe Henderson, George Coleman, Woody Shaw, Clark Terry, Clifford Jordan, Gary Bartz, Phil Woods, Pepper Adams, Joe Lovano, Ron Carter, David Newman, Gerry Mulligan, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Wynton Marsalis, and other high profile jazz recording artists.

As a band leader, Weiss has headlined at the Village Vanguard, Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit Symphony Hall, Smithsonian Institution, and major New York venues such as the Blue Note, JALC, Jazz Standard, Birdland, Bradley’s, Village Gate, Iridium and Sweet Basil. Reviewing his Vanguard debut, the New York Times wrote that Weiss "demonstrated a strong sense of leadership and organization" exhibiting "sensitivity and logic, along with crisp control." Television appearances include CBS-TV’s Nightwatch with Charlie Rose and PBS’ Live From Lincoln Center: The City of Jazz. NPR radio appearances include PianoJazz with Marion McPartland and Making the Music with Wynton Marsalis. Weiss has won the Thelonious Monk Institute's International Piano Competition.

As a composer Weiss is a two-time Doris Duke/Chamber Music America New Works grant recipient and was the grand prize winner of the 2000 BMI/Thelonious Monk Institute's Composition Competition presented to him by Wayne Shorter.