By Mike Jacobs | KIOS Radio
KIOS Jazz CD of the Month: Walt Weiskopf / The Way You Say It / Posi-Tone
Walt Weiskopf, a tenor player deserving of wider recognition, has returned with “The Way You Say It”, his new release on Posi-Tone Records and it’s a fine display of his
talents. Weiskopf plays straight ahead bop and has been a member of Steely Dan’s touring band for several years. He has much to say musically with a quartet on this new record which features Brian Charette on organ, Behn Gillece on vibraphone and Steve Fidyk on drums.
There are nine originals of twelve on the new set and Weiskopf packs a punch in all of them. The tunes are somewhat short time -wise , the longest being just five and half minutes, but the musicians keep everything moving along in a nice flow that keeps the listener engaged and wanting more.
Highlights include a Monk-like “Coffee and Scones” , the quick as lightning ” Blues Combination”, a lovely take on the standard “Candy”, the waltz “Invisible Sun” and the adventurous “Scarlet Woman” originally done by Weather Report on their album “Mysterious Traveller”. Weiskopf has released a good number of recordings under his leadership the past two decades including titles for Double Time and Criss Cross in addition to playing as a sideman with such notables as the Buddy Rich Big Band, Toshiko Akiyoshi , Frank Sinatra, Boz Scaggs and a host of others. His latest offering is proof positive that he is one of the leading tenor players on the scene today.