UW-L JAZZ FESTIVAL 2010 GUEST ARTIST
THE MICHAEL WEISS QUARTET
Featuring:
Michael Weiss - piano
Steve Wilson - soprano/alto sax
Ugonna Okegwo - bass
George Fludas - drums
Best known for his fifteen year association with saxophonist, Johnny Griffin, Michael Weiss has established a formidable reputation working with a host of jazz luminaries such as Art Farmer, Jimmy Heath, Frank Wess, Benny Golson, Lou Donaldson, Slide Hampton, George Coleman, Charles McPherson, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis. In addition to his demand as a sideman, Weiss' role as bandleader, recording artist, composer, arranger and educator have earned him accolades from both audiences and critics:
"... focuses the intensity of a tune as well as any pianist in mainstream jazz” - New York Times
" ...writes with thought-provoking originality” - JazzTimes
"A particularly stunning improviser.... intuitive ease and technical brilliance..." - Victoria Times
A musician's musician, Wilson has brought his distinctive sound to more than 100 recordings led by such celebrated and wideranging artists as Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, and Bill Stewart among many others. Wilson has seven recordings under his own name, leading and collaborating with such stellar musicians as Lewis Nash, Carl Allen, Steve Nelson, Cyrus Chestnut, Greg Hutchinson, Dennis Irwin, James Genus, Larry Grenadier, Ray Drummond, Ben Riley, and Nicholas Payton.
Ugonna Okegwo is one of the most distinctive and sought-after jazz bassists in the world. Critics across the globe have praised him for his rich tone, supple sense of swing, stylistic range and inventiveness. These qualities have not only earned him a place on the bandstand with jazz legends as diverse as Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Pharoah Sanders and Joseph Jarman – they have established him as one of the leading lights of a younger generation redefining jazz for the new century.
George Fludas makes his home in Chicago when not touring with Michael Weiss or Monty Alexander. He can be heard frequently at The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill and Pete Miller's, working often with pianist Ron Perrillo's trio and The Chicago Jazz Orchestra. George has performed and recorded with many jazz greats, such as Johnny Griffin, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Frank Wess, Bobby Hutcherson, Eric Alexander, Diana Krall and Ray Brown.