Articles

Paul Wertico: Impressions of a City

By Hrayr Attarian

Almost 40 years after its inception and despite many detractors among master musicians and critics, jazz-rock fusion continues to have a tenacious hold on both creators and consumers of instrumental music. Percussionist Paul Wertico's Impressions of a City puts a modern spin on the genre by creating a work that brings together jazz like improvisation and the sound of rock jam bands. The concept behind the CD is interesting; it is supposed to be free musical impressions ...

Paul Wertico: All In A Day's Work

By Cicily Janus

Seven-time Grammy winner Paul Wertico, a name long-synonymous with innovation and Herculean energy/talent in the world of drums, has stepped out of the box once again to present an album that defies genre boundaries. In addition to the usual suspects of his trio including guitarist John Moulder and bassist Brian Peters, Wertico has combined forces with Israeli guitarist Dani Rabin and saxophonist Danny Markovitch to form the Mid East/Mid West Alliance. The product of this marriage of talent recently came ...

Paul Wertico's Mid East/Mid West Alliance: Impressions of a City

By John Kelman

For those only familiar with his work in Pat Metheny Group, drummer Paul Wertico's extracurricular career will be something of a shock. He may have been all light cymbal work and gentle pulses with PMG, but on albums like The Sign of Four (Knitting Factory, 1997)--a freewheeling session with Metheny in a “beyond"-Song X (Nonesuch, 1985) mood, über-free guitarist Derek Bailey and intrepid percussionist Gregg Bendian--Wertico proved that PMG's accessible grooves were but only one of his many diverse interests.

Paul Wertico: StereoNucleosis

By Jerry D'Souza

First came the nucleus. Then came the overdubs, sixty times over in some cases. Then came the music, which in the final analysis was well worth the time and the intent. Paul Wertico has created discreet music that goes a long way in satisfaction, and it’s all in stereo too. If one may get away with a quibble, “You Can Get There From Here” doesn’t quite do so with the multiple rhythms nestling too close together to be distinct. That ...

Paul Wertico Trio: Don't Be Scared Anymore

By Todd S. Jenkins

Following the untimely demise of the Igmod label, the Paul Wertico Trio made an enlivening shift to Premonition to produce their first studio disc. The trio format seems to offer Wertico a better chance to really stretch out and shine than the Pat Metheny Group or his own prior groups permitted. He selected near-perfect foils in guitarist John Moulder and bassist Eric Hochberg, who share both the leader’s quirky eclecticism and his understanding of the diverse elements that constitute good ...

Paul Wertico Trio: Don't Be Scared Anymore

By Jim Santella

With a fusion of jazz, rock and soulful blues, Paul Wertico features blazing guitars atop propulsive rhythms for his second trio album. The Chicago lineup works well together with empathy, while performing original compositions from each of them. The drummer-led unit drives through a variety of familiar rhythms, including classical ostinatos, ride cymbal swings, and a New Orleans shuffle.

John Moulder’s Duke Ellington-like swing feature on “Liftoff" settles in with a lyrical message that crosses genres easily. Similarly, Eric Hochberg’s ...

Paul Wertico Trio: Live In Warsaw

By Ed Kopp

If your knowledge of Paul Wertico is limited to his work with the Pat Metheny Group, you might not realize the extent of this man's ability. Live In Warsaw shows another side to a drummer who's better known for his finesse than his quick hands. Recorded one night during a two-week tour of Germany and Poland in October 1994, Live In Warsaw also features the gifted John Moulder on guitar and Eric Hochberg on bass. The three Chicagoans ...