Walt Weiskopf (born July 30, 1959, in Augusta, Georgia) is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, author and educator. He has released sixteen albums as a leader, and performed on countless other albums as a sideman. He has collaborated with artists such as Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra and Steely Dan.[1]
Author and journalist Cicily Janus regards Weiskopf as "one of the best unknown musicians in the modern scene",[2] and JazzTimes Magazine considers him to be underrated and "a highly potent tenor saxophonist who demonstrates a strong Trane-Rollins influence".[3]
Early life
Weiskopf was born in Augusta, Georgia. He grew up outside of Syracuse, New York. He took up his first instrument, the clarinet, at age 10. He began his saxophone studies four years later. He studied at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester from 1977 to 1980. After earning his BA in Music Performance, he moved to New York City in September 1980.
Professional career
Weiskopf began his New York career performing with the Buddy Rich Big Band in 1981 at the age of 21,[4] and began a 14-year stint with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra two years later.[5] Since then he has released 16 recordings as a leader, and holds numerous credits as a sideman.[6][7]
In 1991 and 1993 respectively, Weiskopf co-authored Coltrane: A Player's Guide To His Harmony and The Augmented Scale in Jazz (publisher J. Aebersold) with Ramon Ricker. He completed Intervalic Improvisation (publisher Aebersold) in 1994. His fourth book, Around The Horn, was released in 2001. The sequel Beyond The Horn, co-authored with his former student Ed RosenBerg, was released in 2006. His most recent book, Understanding the Diminished Scale, was released in 2013.[10]
1995: Song for My Mother (Criss Cross Jazz 1127) with Anders Bostrom, Jim Snidero, Joe Magnarelli, Scott Robinson, Joel Weiskopf, Peter Washington & Billy Drummond
1996: Night Lights (Doubletime Records 106) with Joel Weiskopf, Drew Gress & Steve Davis
1997: Sleepless Nights (Criss Cross Jazz 1147) with Andy Fusco, Conrad Herwig, Joel Weiskopf, James Genus & Billy Drummond
1993: The Augmented Scale in Jazz (publisher J. Aebersold) – co-authored by Ramon Ricker) ISBN978-1562240318
1995: Intervalic Improvisation (publisher J. Aebersold)
2000: Around The Horn: 21 Modal Scales and Arpeggios Every Jazz Musician Needs To Know (publisher J. Aebersold) ISBN978-1562240301
2006: Beyond The Horn: Challenging Exercises & Etudes for Modern Improvisation (publisher J. Aebersold) – co-authored by Ed RosenBerg) ISBN978-1562240493
2010: Intervallic Improvisation – The Modern Sound: A Step Beyond Linear Improvisation (publisher J. Aebersold) ISBN978-1562242596
2010: Giant Steps: A Player's Guide To Coltrane's Harmony for ALL Instrumentalists (publisher J. Aebersold) – co-authored by Ramon Ricker) ISBN978-1562240530
2013: Understanding the Diminished Scale: A Guide for the Modern Player (publisher J. Aebersold)) ASIN 1562242881
2016: 16 Moderately Challenging Jazz Solos (publisher J. Aebersold))
^Janus, Cicily (July 13, 2010). The New Face of Jazz: An Intimate Look at Today's Living Legends and the Artists of Tomorrow. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony. pp. 305–306.
