Interview with Dan Weiss
by Adam Schatz
Dan Weiss is one of the hardest working drummers in New York City. He has new albums coming out with the Dan Weiss / Miles Okazaki Duo, as well as the Dan Weiss Trio. Buy them if you know what's good for you.
1. Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do 'cause I feel as if I am on a musical path to change myself and others.
2. What was the last bit of magic that you witnessed?
Meshuggah playing live at Irving Plaza on Feb 19th, 2009.
3. What are three of your current favorite jazz albums, and three of
your favorite "non-jazz" albums?
I haven't been listening to current jazz recently. Three albums that Ihave been listening to a lot recently are Morrisey " Years of Refusal" , Glenn Gould " Bach: The English Suites ", and Frank Sinatra " The World We Knew "
4. If you had the power to resurrect the dead, who would you bring
back to play one show with?
Nikhil Banerjee or John Coltrane.
5. What's something you've never done before that you've always
wanted to do?
Go skydiving.
6. What is a common thought that runs through your brain while
improvising?
I try to be completely free of thought when I am playing .
7. What has been a difficult situation for you to perform in?
Every time I play tabla in a live situation, I realize that I never feel comfortable.
8. What has been an encouraging one?
The previous answer is reason for encouragement. It provides incentive to get better.
9. What initially prompted you to begin studying the tabla under guru Samir Chatterjee, and how was transition into that unique relationship?
I was studying hand drums under Jamey Haddad. He gave me my soon to be guru's phone number. The relationship I have with my guru is a sacred one. He has taught me so many things about music and life that I would not find elsewhere,
10. Do you notice that your changing tastes in what you listen to, the current tastes spanning Meshuggah to Morrissey, affect how you compose or perform?
Having that range of tastes just makes my palette broader in reference to composing and improving.
