Ezra Weiss

Piano
Recently Added
01/25/2008
Smalls
The Ezra Weiss Group
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Composer/pianist Ezra Weiss was born on January 16, 1979, in Phoenix, Arizona.There, he was active in community theater, both as an actor and a musicaldirector. He was also involved in band programs, and studied piano with LarryLoeber. After graduating from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Ezra moved toOhio to study at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.At Oberlin, Ezra studied composition with Wendell Logan and piano with NealCreque. During his senior year, Ezra formed the jazz sextet Blues Connotation. In2001, he received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition and moved toPortland, Oregon.In Portland, Ezra continued to lead Blues Connotation, which later became theEzra Weiss Sextet. Ezra also began teaching at the Beaverton Arts andCommunication Magnet Academy, Self Enhancement Inc., the Western OregonUniversity Jazz Camp, and the Northwest Children's Theater, where he musicaldirected numerous productions as well.In 2002, Ezra flew to New York City for a week to record his debut CD, The FiveA.M. Strut. Released a year later on the Umoja label, the CD features MichaelPhilip Mossman, Antonio Hart, Kelly Roberge, Leon Lee Dorsey, and Billy Hart.The Five A.M. Strut received great attention from the press and spent time on boththe JazzWeek and CMJ radio charts. Ezra's subsequent recordings includedPersephone (2005 Umoja) and Get Happy (2007 Roark Records). Again, bothalbums received excellent reviews and radio airplay.Ezra has composed and/or arranged music for Billy Hart, Thara Memory, RobScheps Big Band, Leon Lee Dorsey, Stan Bock, and Renato Caranto, amongothers. He has also performed with many great musicians including Greg Bandy,Michael Philip Mossman, Antonio Hart, Thara Memory, Rob Scheps, RenatoCaranto, and Dennis Rowland. He also co-led the Courtney Bryan/Ezra Weiss JazzOrchestra in New York. Additionally, Ezra won the 2002, 2006, and 2007 ASCAPYoung Jazz Composer Award.Ezra has led bands in many of the U.S.'s greatest clubs, including Dizzy's ClubCoca-Cola, Smalls, and Tonic in New York City; Ryles in Boston; NightTown inCleveland; Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia; The Triple Door in Seattle; JimmyMak's in Portland; and Catalina's in Los Angeles.In 2004, Ezra moved to New York City to pursue a Masters in Jazz Piano at QueensCollege. There, he studied piano with Bruce Barth and Ted Rosenthal. Aftergraduating, he taught for a year at Scottsdale Community College. Ezra currentlylives in Portland, Oregon, where he teaches at the Northwest Childrens Theaterand at Portland State University.Weblinks:ezweiss@hotmail.com www.ezraweiss.com