Jazz Articles

Deborah Weisz: Trio

by Laurel Gross
February 8, 2008

When some people talk about jazz being good because it is “relaxing," this listener wants to scream: What's wrong with these people? Jazz should be all kinds of things, but “relaxing ? That word seems to imply that the music is not challenging, interesting. Well, here's one case where this writer might have to eat her words. Trio is a highly engaging and likeable foray into mostly straight-ahead territory; yes, served straight up but with a twist. ...

Deborah Weisz: Trio

by Larry Taylor
December 7, 2007

Pleasantly relaxing--that's the way to describe trombonist Deborah Weisz and her sisters in sound, guitarist Sheryl Bailey and bassist Nicki Parrott, on Trio.

This loosely swinging session features standards, mixed with several originals from Weisz and Bailey. The fact that the group has played regularly at The Garage in New York City's Greenwich Village is always apparent in their cohesive arrangements. With Weisz's lush, warm sound leading, all have ample solo time as well. ...

Deborah Weisz: Grace (for Will)

by Robert R. Calder
January 19, 2006

Deborah Weisz dedicates “Grace," which opens her album of the same name, to her brother Will, marking her struggle back into composition after his untimely death silenced her for a while. From dissociated flutterings of all the instruments, including harmonica, comes the big, blurry trombone sound of the leader with minimal accompaniment. Andrew Sterman's hard-toned neo-Coltrane tenor solos untamed and there's a rock-style solo from Sheryl Bailey, who can do much more. The following piece, Weisz's “Zoneing," inspired by George ...

Deborah Weisz Quintet: Grace (For Will)

by Jerry D'Souza
November 24, 2005

Deborah Weisz makes a strong statement and underlines her credentials as a composer and trombone player on Grace, her second album. She defines different styles with a compact sense of accomplishment, an attribute that also owes its devolution to her fine band.

The opening track was written for her brother Will. It is full of surprises, its twists and turns keeping you on edge, then coming to a highly satisfactory resolution. Weisz opens the soundscape in a soft ...

Deborah Weisz Quintet: Grace (for Will)

by Elliott Simon
November 8, 2005

From its reverent yet fun-loving title cut, Grace (for Will) is a delight. Trombonist Deborah Weisz has assembled a wonderfully eclectic, intermeshing group of musicians to interpret newly composed music motivated by significant events and people in her life. Along with her communicative t-bone, two of New York City's most expressive and versatile musicians, guitarist Sheryl Bailey and bassist Nicki Parrott, aid in delivering a varied program of creative music that swings, bops, and stretches boundaries in intriguing ways.

The Deborah Weisz Quintet: Breaking Up, Breaking Out

by Jack Bowers
July 1, 1999

Deborah Weisz is an excellent trombonist, no doubt about that — and she has the resumé to prove it (degrees from UNLV, seven years backing Sinatra); but her debut album, Breaking Up, Breaking Out, delivers much more promise than excitement. While everything flows along well enough from song to song, few sparks are produced, and one feels that in the end neither Weisz nor her teammates was inclined to take any unnecessary chances. The phrase that comes to mind is ...