Walt Weiskopf on Practicing, Steely Dan, Composition, and More
Saxophonist, composer and author Walt Weiskopf has worked with legendary acts such as Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Toshiko Akiyoshi, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and Steely Dan to name just a few. As a solo artist, he’s recorded fourteen critically acclaimed albums bringing onboard heavyweights such as Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci, Billy Drummond, Joe Locke, and Renee Rosnes among many others. Under the tutelage of clarinetist Leon Russianoff in 1988-89, Walt earned a Master of Arts in clarinet performance from Queens College of the City University of New York and has performed with a number of notable classical orchestras.
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Walt is a distinguished composer who’s received multiple performance grants from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Chamber Music America.
On top of his performing and composing achievements, Walt has written 5 educational books including Intervalic Improvisation as well as Coltrane – A Players Guide to Understanding His Harmony .
February 1, 2011 @ 10:38 pm
Nice interview with a great player and educator!
February 1, 2011 @ 10:43 pm
Thanks Jeff, Walt is a true monster in every musical arena in which he finds himself – and you’re not so bad yourself my friend! ;)
February 11, 2011 @ 9:03 pm
Thanks to this interview, I’ve pulled out the old Marcel Mule etudes and added them to my practice routine.
Thanks!
February 12, 2011 @ 11:23 am
That’s awesome Mark! I should do the same, as it’s really easy for me to focus on just playing stuff by ear and by memory – which is awesome. But there’s nothing like a great book of etudes to challenge you in areas you didn’t know you needed to be challenged.
All the best,
Doron