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The Wee Trio
The band kicked off their inaugural tour performing throughout New York and Pennsylvania playing at a few clubs, a Jazz Festival, and an Artist Residency at a local University. The band reconvened back in Brooklyn to record and document the trio. The documented recording entitled Capital Diner Vol. 1 features original compositions by the trio with a few standards composed by Kurt Cobain, Sufjan Stevens, and Thelonious Monk. Needless to say the groups eclectic style has really helped them stand out in the New York jazz scene.
The Wee Trio comes from different areas of the USA; Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Houston. It wasn’t until Jared Schonig and Dan Loomis met, while attending Eastman School of Music, that the hook up was laid down. Meanwhile James Westfall was chosen by Herbie Hancock and Terence Blanchard to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute. After finishing his studies, he moved to Brooklyn, coincidentally, across the street from the apartment the rhythm section shared.
Each member of the Wee Tree is a leader in their own right. Their respective recordings show the legacy of their visionary bandleading. Westfall's Independent was released on Bionic Records. Jazztimes writes "...declarative and uplifting, incorporating elements of rock and hip-hop...Westfall's style is distinctive" Meanwhile, Loomis’ I Love Paris was released on Jazz Excursion, was praised as "...one of the top releases of 2007" by Scott Yanow of All Music Guide.
While rooted in Jazz The Wee Trio finds ways to break boundaries encompassing their other roots in Rock and Fusion.
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The Wee Trio with Fabian Almazán: Climb
by Geno Thackara
Despite any connotations, the spirit of The Wee Trio is a pretty big one--big energy, wide imagination, and on 2016's Wee +3 (Bionic Records), the larger-than-life sound they make with good friends sitting in to make something more than the mere parts. ...
Continue ReadingThe Wee Trio: Full of Surprises
by Geno Thackara
Don't be fooled by the name. The members of the Wee Trio are normal-looking and normal-sized guys, their ambition if anything is deluxe, and their compositional scope virtually limitless. While such a moniker can only keep them humble--not that they'd seem to need the help--they've always kept an outsized willingness to follow fascinating ideas and embrace the unexpected. Picture Al Pacino's sneaky lawyer in The Devil's Advocate explaining his unassuming appearance: “I'm the little guy. They don't see me comin.'" ...
Continue ReadingThe Wee Trio: Wee +3
by Dan Bilawsky
The Wee Trio delivered quite a bit of variety over the course of its first four albums. The first two--Capitol Diner, Vol. I (Bionic Records, 2008) and Capitol Diner, Vol. II: Animal Style (Bionic Records, 2010)--established the musical ground and syntax that are part and parcel of this three-way partnership; Ashes To Ashes: A David Bowie Intraspective (Bionic Record, 2012) demonstrated much of what can be done to mutate and honor David Bowie's music, almost foretelling the growth of Bowie-inflected ...
Continue ReadingThe Wee Trio: Live at the Bistro
by Luigi Sforza
La bella copertina dell'ultimo CD del Wee Trio--in puro stile fumettistico pop art, alla Roy Lichtenstein, comprensivo di onomatopee--rappresenta i tre musicisti nell'atto di suonare. La musica poi è un'esperienza dinamica sfaccettata, in sintonia con le possibili declinazioni di una società in continuo movimento. L'accostamento tra pop art e Live at the Bistro -disco che fotografa la performance del gruppo nell'omonimo locale di St. Louis ad un paio d'anni di distanza da Ashes to Ashes: a David Bowie ...
Continue ReadingThe Wee Trio: Ashes To Ashes - A David Bowie Intraspective
by Glenn Astarita
Vibraphonist James Westfall participated with several New Orleans-based musicians to cover the music of pop icon David Bowie and took the concept further by using this premise for The Wee Trio's third album. The band projects youthful vigor along the lines of The Bad Plus and Medeski, Martin & Wood; firmly rooted in the jazz vernacular, the trio adheres to Bowie's famous melodies and song forms, all enacted with jazzy variations and plentiful doses of improvisation. “1984" is ...
Continue ReadingThe Wee Trio: Capitol Diner Vol. 2: Animal Style
by Mark F. Turner
Based loosely in New York, The Wee Trio's origins form a cross-section of the United States, with drummer Jared Schonig from Los Angeles, vibraphonist James Westfall living in New Orleans and bassist Dan Loomis hailing from St. Louis. Notwithstanding that there isn't an abundance of vibraphone-centered recordings such as Joe Locke's For the Love of You (E1 Music, 2010) and Stefon Harris' Urbanus (Concord Music Group, 2009), The Wee Trio holds high the mallet-based banner in good form, showing itself ...
Continue ReadingThe Wee Trio: Capitol Diner Vol. 1
by Troy Collins
Jazz has a long history of up and coming musicians attempting to incorporate the popular music of their time into the standard repertoire. Some acts have made such ideology their calling card. For example, both the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Sex Mob regularly include contemporary pop songs in their set lists. As such, the cover of Nirvana's early underground hit “About a Girl" (complete with hyper speed “Rhapsody in Blue" interjections) that opens the Wee Trio's debut album Capitol ...
Continue ReadingThe Wee Trio Announces The Release Of Wee + 3, Plus Upcoming Tour Dates!
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
THE WEE TRIO Announces The Release of Wee + 3: James Westfall (vibes), Dan Loomis (bass), and Jared Schonig (drums), Joined by Very Special Guests: Nicholas Payton, Nir Felder, and Fabian Almazán Available September 30, 2016 on Bionic Records. iTunes Pre-Order! Wee + 3 Tour Dates: Oct 22: Sunnyvale Performing Arts Center, Sunnyvale, CA Oct 23: The Blue Whale, Los Angeles, CA Oct 24: Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High, Los Angeles, CA ...
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Jazz This Week: The Wee Trio, Take 6, J.D. Parran and George Sams, Scott Kirby, Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola, and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
With spring appearing finally to have sprung here in St. Louis, it should be a fine weekend to get out and hear some live jazz and creative music, and fortunately, our local stages will be filled with intriguing possibilities. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, Good 4 The Soul plays their monthly gig at BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups; Washington University's jazz studies students will perform a free concert to wrap up this semester's Jazz at Holmes series; the Lemp ...
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The Wee Trio Announces The Release Of: Live At The Bistro + A National Tour
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
" . . . infectious . . . raucous . . . More, please" —The Boston Globe “Moments of majesty" —The Philadelphia Inquirer THE WEE TRIO Announces The Release of: LIVE AT THE BISTRO The incredible energy & venturesome spirit of The Wee Trio recorded live over two sold-out nights at the award-winning Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis' Grand Center Arts District (September 17, 2013 on Bionic Records) + A national tour in support of the new recording ...
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The Wee Trio Live At Subculture On Thursday, June 6!
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
James Westfall (vibes), Dan Loomis (bass), Jared Schonig (drums) SubCulture is located at 45 Bleecker Street, NYC, doors 6:30 show 7:30, $12-15 For more info & TKTS call 212 533 5470 The Wee Trio will perform music from their critically acclaimed discography: Capitol Diner Vol. 1, Capitol Diner Vol. 2 - Animal Style, Ashes to Ashes - A David Bowie Intraspective. The Wee Trio will be appearing at SubCulture NYC on June 6, kicking off a busy second half of ...
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STLJN Interview: Dan Loomis of the Wee Trio on Recording Live at Jazz at the Bistro
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
As mentioned several times before in this space, The Wee Trio (pictured, top left) are in St. Louis this weekend, performing and recording a live album on Friday and Saturday nights at Jazz at the Bistro. Though scheduling complications over the past week rendered fruitless our attempts to connect via phone with bassist and St. Louis native Dan Loomis, he was kind enough to respond to a few questions about the impending gig/recording session via email: StLJN: Your last album ...
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Three Views of a Trio Featuring The Wee Trio, the Joel Frahm Trio & the Danny Fox Trio @ Le Poisson Rouge
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
Le Poisson Rouge, February 28, 2012 THREE VIEWS OF A TRIO: CD Release Celebration for The Wee Trio's Ashes To Ashes—A David Bowie INTRAspective Also featuring the trios of Joel Frahm and Danny Fox Tues, Feb. 28, 10 PM, tkts are $15, 158 Bleecker St., NYC The Press Rave About The Wee Trio's Ashes to Ashes: “The music makes a wonderful jumping-off point for these inventive musicians . . . a take-no- ...
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Jazz This Week: The Wee Trio, Chris Corsano, "Jazz Under the Stars," Freddie Washington, and More
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
If there's a theme to this week, it would seem to be “youth," as the next few days' worth of jazz and creative music in St. Louis will feature a number of fresh faces (plus a few relatively grizzled veterans) performing in a variety of styles ranging from the traditional to the experimental. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, vibraphonist Peter Schlamb and his group will kick off the winter/spring 2012 Jazz at Holmes series of free concerts at Washington ...
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Three Views of a Trio Featuring The Wee Trio, the Joel Frahm Trio & the Danny Fox Trio @ Le Poisson Rouge!
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
Le Poisson Rouge—February 28, 2012 CD Release Celebration for The Wee Trio Ashes To Ashes—A David Bowie INTRAspective Also featuring the trios of Joel Frahm and Danny Fox. Tues, February 28, 10 PM, $15 Le Poisson Rouge 158 Bleecker St. New York, NY 212 505 FISH The Ashes to Ashes Tour: Stephenville, TX, Jan 18: Tarelton State University Denton, TX, Jan 19: University of North Texas ...
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The Wee Trio - Ashes to Ashes: A David Bowie Intraspective (2012)
Source:
Something Else!
A finely judged treatment of David Bowie's music, done without hewing too closely to the old sides—and without fear of going too deep into his catalog for material. Along the way, the Wee Trio gives us a new understanding of Bowie's sometimes overlooked way with a pop tune. But, more importantly, Ashes to Ashes is such a complete recording that it holds up even if you don't consider yourself a Bowie completist. That's perhaps best heard on the title track ...
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The Wee Trio On Tour In Support of "Ashes To Ashes - A David Bowie Intraspective"
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
..."infectious ...raucous ...More, please." —The Boston Globe “an investigative vehicle which shakes with energy... inventive jazz which works on its own merits while retaining Bowie's spirit and self- assurance." —Audiophile Audition “Ashes to Ashes suggests that if you wash 30 years of glam off of Bowie, durable songs remain... there's plenty of adventure and invention in these tracks." —OffBeat Magazine THE WEE TRIO Announces National Tour In Support & Celebration of: ASHES TO ASHES—A DAVID BOWIE INTRASPECTIVE (released on New ...
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"James Westfall, Dan Loomis, and Jared Schonig play with fervent audacity, stretching the kinetic limits of their respective instruments." —Troy Collins, All About Jazz
"The Wee Trio often veers from the expected...questioning the rules of jazz orthodoxy. They keep the music substantive and riddled with direction surprises. Definitely a group to watch. " —Peter Margasak, Downbeat
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Publicist: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
