NEWS
Michael returns to the Village Vanguard, April 1-6 to lead a trio with Peter Washington and Lewis Nash.

In October, 2007, Michael presented a clinic at JazzImprov's convention entitled Get More Out of Your Tunes: Transform Your Basic Songs Into Full-fledged Compositions That Create a Richer and More Personal Musical Expression

After a successful debut in October of 2006, Michael returned to the Village Vanguard the week of March 27 - April 1, 2007 with his current quintet, which includes Steve Wilson, Ugonna Okegwo, George Fludas and Daniel Sadownick. Immediately after the week, the quintet laid down several new tracks at Bennett Studios. More recording planned for 2007.

In addition to his piano work, Michael's composition Power Station is included on Frank Wess' recent CD, Body and Soul (M&I).

A full length interview with Michael appeared in the Spring, 2005 issue of Jazz Improv magazine.

The Winter, 2005 issue of Piano Today, includes the music to Soul Journey with accompanying commentary. Michael contributed an article about Wayne Shorter's influence on his composing, together with the music to his piece, El Camino in the Spring, 2004 issue.

By arrangement with D'Accord Music, Michael's transcription of Thad Jones' original arrangement of Mean What You Say is available for sale exclusively through Michael. Email for more information.

As a 2004-2005 grant recipient of Chamber Music America's Residency Partnership Program, Michael brought jazz music to the Brooklyn P.S.321 fifth grade class through a series of workshops and concerts.

Michael was featured in the April, 2004 issue of Hot House magazine.

Michael is a recipient of Chamber Music America's New Works: Creation & Presentation grant for 2002-2003. The commissioned work, "Three Doors" debuted in November, 2003.

Soul Journey, Michael's long awaited CD project was released March 4, 2003 on Sintra Records. Incorporating the best musical and engineering talent, Michael was able to fully realize his vision without compromise. The nine original compositions included, arranged for sextet and percussion, have developed over several years, taking on greater complexity and refinement. Inspired by Wayne Shorter's groundbreaking High Life, Michael began incorporating elements of the rock and fusion background of his youth into his compositions, as well as shifting the balance of composition and improvisation into a more complex integration of the two.

SOUL JOURNEY

Michael Weiss - piano, Fender Rhodes
Steve Wilson - alto saxophone
Ryan Kisor - trumpet and flugelhorn
Steve Davis - trombone
Paul Gill - bass
Joe Farnsworth - drums
Daniel Sadownick - percussion

Produced by Michael Weiss
Recorded and mixed by Joe Ferla at Avatar Studios, New York
Mastered by Paul Zinman at Soundbyte Productions, New York

One composition from Soul Journey, "El Camino," won Michael the 2000 Thelonious Monk International Composers Competition, sponsored by BMI. Weiss performed it after accepting the award at the Kennedy Center. Read all about it on BMI's website

Michael with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock at the Kennedy Center