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The musical mind of Jon Weber is quite amazing! A brilliant player and masterful arranger, he also possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of jazz and American popular song. Weber joined McPartland at the Music Institute of Chicago. |
Pianist Jon Weber was born in Wisconsin in 1961, the youngest boy in a family of seven. At age three, Weber received a toy organ and immediately began picking out tunes and playing versions of the music he'd heard on his Dr. Seuss and Bugs Bunny Records. Soon after, his grandmother gave the family an old player piano, complete with all of her old piano rolls. By age 6, Weber had learned almost 2000 songs by tracing the finger movements on the player piano. He continued his musical education by delving into his father's record collection, learning and then re-harmonizing the jazz and pop standards he heard.
In his teenage years, Weber began writing down musical ideas and complex orchestrations on any scrap piece of paper he could find. During this time, he also learned to play guitar in an effort to develop his left hand. At 16, Weber joined the Mark Kleckley Big Band, and by 19, he had his own jazz quintet, opening for such jazz luminaries as Pat Metheney, Buddy Rich, and Freddie Hubbard.
Upon moving to Chicago in 1987, Weber began a long-running engagement at the Four Seasons. He also found fans at New York's 92nd Street Y, and in both venues, he was able to play duets with a number of musicians as they came through town, including Stevie Wonder, Cyrus Chestnut, Sir Roland Hanna and Marian McPartland. Impressed by his musicianship and extensive knowledge of jazz, McPartland invited Weber to join her on her Piano Jazz program in 1996. Later, she would commission Weber to transcribe the improvised musical portraits that were occasionally recorded on her Piano Jazz program.
Several appearances at major jazz festivals thrust Weber onto the international stage and his playing and personality won him a number of fans among listeners and critics alike. In addition to being a brilliant player and composer, Weber also has an amazing ability to recall the title, composer, and the year written for just about every jazz tune and pop standard.
The music from his latest release, Simple Complex, is based on the recently uncovered musical ideas and manuscripts written during Weber's teenage years. The CD has been critically acclaimed the world over for the astounding arrangements and masterful playing it contains.
Set List for Jon Weber on Piano Jazz:"No More Words" (Weber)
"Den Fyrste Song" (Per Sivle)
"Blue Skies" (Berlin)
"Prelude to a Kiss" (Ellington, Gordon, Mills)
"Let's Fall In Love" (Khoeler, Arlen)
"While She's Dreaming" (Weber)
"Black And Tan Fantasy" (Ellington, Miley)
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (Ellington, Russell)
"In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" (Hilliard, Mann )
"Lover Come Back To Me" (Hammerstein, Romberg)
Jon Weber Site
In his teenage years, Weber began writing down musical ideas and complex orchestrations on any scrap piece of paper he could find. During this time, he also learned to play guitar in an effort to develop his left hand. At 16, Weber joined the Mark Kleckley Big Band, and by 19, he had his own jazz quintet, opening for such jazz luminaries as Pat Metheney, Buddy Rich, and Freddie Hubbard.
Upon moving to Chicago in 1987, Weber began a long-running engagement at the Four Seasons. He also found fans at New York's 92nd Street Y, and in both venues, he was able to play duets with a number of musicians as they came through town, including Stevie Wonder, Cyrus Chestnut, Sir Roland Hanna and Marian McPartland. Impressed by his musicianship and extensive knowledge of jazz, McPartland invited Weber to join her on her Piano Jazz program in 1996. Later, she would commission Weber to transcribe the improvised musical portraits that were occasionally recorded on her Piano Jazz program.
Several appearances at major jazz festivals thrust Weber onto the international stage and his playing and personality won him a number of fans among listeners and critics alike. In addition to being a brilliant player and composer, Weber also has an amazing ability to recall the title, composer, and the year written for just about every jazz tune and pop standard.
The music from his latest release, Simple Complex, is based on the recently uncovered musical ideas and manuscripts written during Weber's teenage years. The CD has been critically acclaimed the world over for the astounding arrangements and masterful playing it contains.
Set List for Jon Weber on Piano Jazz:
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