The Mort Weiss Quartet: The Four of Us: Live at Steamers (2005)

George Harris

since 2004

Recent articles (33 total)

Published: April 30, 2006

The Mort Weiss Quartet: The Four of Us: Live at Steamers

Piano-less bands always grab my attention because the lightness and roominess of the music pull me in. This group, featuring 69 year-old Mort Weiss on clarinet and Ron Eschete on seven-string guitar, is quite reminiscent of the classic Paul Desmond quartet. Both lead voices have a cool and dry tone, with only minor influences by Charlie Parker, and they deliver straight-ahead jazz with no frills or gimmicks—simple, smooth sailing over a glassy sea.

Supported by Los Angeles heroes Roy McCurdy (drums) and Dave Carpenter (bass), the front line simmers through a set of standards with deceptive ease. Weiss is gentle and lyrical on Gershwin's "Embraceable You" and percussive on Sonny Rollins' familiar "St. Thomas." Eschete's tone is palpably rich, as evidenced on "East of the Sun." Not falling into the trap of too many modern clarinetists, Weiss is confident enough in his sound to not overwhelm the audience with a mind-numbing flurry of notes.

No one is in a rush here. Instead, The Four of Us lets the music do its job. That is the real sign of greatness. It was definitely smoking at Steamers the night this was recorded.

Track Listing: Song is You; I Thought About You; East of the Sun; Over the Rainbow; St. Thomas; Stella by Starlight; Embraceable You; Blues in the Closet.

Personnel: Mort Weiss: clarinet; Ron Eschete: guitar; Dave Carpenter: bass; Roy McCurdy: drums.

Record Label: SMS Jazz
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream