dan weiss trio

Biography

Dan Weiss, born in New Jersey and now based in Brooklyn, NY, began playing drums at the age of six, nurtured by a musical family—his father was a guitarist. Early exposure to rock icons like Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Jimi Hendrix shaped his initial musical direction, with John Bonham serving as a formative drumming influence. Weiss pursued formal studies at the Manhattan School of Music, earning a bachelor's degree in jazz percussion and a minor in classical composition, which laid the foundation for his genre-defying career.[3][5]

Weiss's career is marked by a relentless pursuit of musical innovation, blending jazz with influences from Indian classical music, contemporary classical, West African rhythms, and metal. He has studied tabla for over two decades under Pandit Samir Chatterjee, a mentorship that deeply informs his compositional style and drumming technique. Weiss is acclaimed for his angular melodies, complex rhythmic cycles, and the integration of raga-inspired melodic forms. His trio—featuring Jacob Sacks (piano) and Thomas Morgan (bass)—has released several critically acclaimed albums, including 'Now Yes When' (2006), 'Timshel' (2011), 'Utica Box' (2019), and 'Dedication' (2022), noted for their inventive song structures and improvisational depth.[1][2][3][4]

Beyond the trio, Weiss leads large ensembles and genre-crossing projects such as Starebaby, which fuses jazz, metal, and new music. His work is celebrated for pushing the boundaries of modern jazz, earning him recognition as one of the top five jazz drummers by The New York Times and repeated honors in Downbeat's Critic's Poll. Weiss's legacy lies in his fearless synthesis of global musical traditions and his influence on a new generation of improvisers.[1][2][4]

Fun Facts

• Dan Weiss is also a skilled tabla player and has released solo tabla recordings, performing classical Indian repertoire on drum set.
• He cites progressive rock bands like Rush and metal bands such as Metallica and Slayer as early influences, alongside jazz legends.
• Weiss's album 'Dedication' pays homage to a diverse set of inspirations, including Elvin Jones, Burt Bacharach, Conlon Nancarrow, and filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky.
• He was named one of the top five jazz drummers by The New York Times and repeatedly recognized in Downbeat's Critic's Poll.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Pandit Samir Chatterjee - Tabla guru and primary teacher for over 20 years; Weiss studied Indian classical music and rhythmic cycles under his guidance. (Weiss's solo tabla CD '3dcd' (2007), drum set albums 'Teental Drumset Solo' (2005) and 'Jhaptal Drumset Solo' (2011)) [2000s-present]
• Jeff Krause - Early drum instructor who introduced Weiss to jazz legends and broadened his musical horizons. (N/A (private instruction)) [1990s]

Key Collaborators

• Jacob Sacks - Pianist in the Dan Weiss Trio; long-term collaborator in all trio albums. ('Now Yes When' (2006), 'Timshel' (2011), 'Utica Box' (2019), 'Dedication' (2022)) [2006-present]
• Thomas Morgan - Bassist in the Dan Weiss Trio; long-term collaborator in all trio albums. ('Now Yes When' (2006), 'Timshel' (2011), 'Utica Box' (2019), 'Dedication' (2022)) [2006-present]
• Craig Taborn - Keyboardist in Weiss's Starebaby project, blending jazz and metal. ('Starebaby' (2018), 'Natural Selection' (2020)) [2018-present]
• Matt Mitchell - Pianist in Starebaby and large ensemble projects. ('Starebaby' (2018), 'Natural Selection' (2020)) [2018-present]
• Ben Monder - Guitarist in Starebaby and large ensemble projects. ('Starebaby' (2018), 'Natural Selection' (2020)) [2018-present]
• Trevor Dunn - Bassist in Starebaby. ('Starebaby' (2018), 'Natural Selection' (2020)) [2018-present]
• David Binney, Lee Konitz, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Miguel Zenon, Kenny Werner - Collaborated as sideman and guest artist in various jazz projects and recordings. (Various albums and live performances) [2000s-present]

Artists Influenced

• Rudresh Mahanthappa - Weiss's rhythmic innovations and Indian classical influences have shaped Mahanthappa's approach to jazz fusion. (Collaborative works and Mahanthappa's albums) [2010s-present]
• Younger jazz drummers and improvisers - Inspired by Weiss's integration of Indian classical music and complex rhythmic structures. (Students and workshop participants (no specific albums documented)) [2010s-present]

Source: Wikipedia

Top Tracks

1. For Samirji (Now Yes When)
2. Not Yet (Now Yes When)
3. Richard Dawson (Now Yes When)
4. Wizards (Now Yes When)
5. Chakradar 1 (Now Yes When)
6. The Day After Tomorrow (Now Yes When)
7. Granollers Slayer (Now Yes When)
8. Ode to Meshuggah (Now Yes When)
9. Chakradar 2 (Now Yes When)
10. Chakradar 3 (Now Yes When)

Discography

Top Tracks

1. For Samirji (Now Yes When)
2. Chakradar 1 (Now Yes When)
3. Not Yet (Now Yes When)
4. Wizards (Now Yes When)
5. The Day After Tomorrow (Now Yes When)
6. Chakradar 2 (Now Yes When)
7. Richard Dawson (Now Yes When)
8. Granollers Slayer (Now Yes When)
9. Ode to Meshuggah (Now Yes When)
10. Chakradar 3 (Now Yes When)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia