International Archives For The Jazz Organ (IAJO) - The Jazz Organ Scene USA

James Weidman

James (*1953 in Youngstown, Ohio) was born into a musical family, learning jazz from his saxophonist-bandleading father at age seven. At 14 he was playing organ in his father's band. Throughout his years at Youngstown State University (graduating cum laude with a degree in classical piano & music education), James divided his time between studies and performance, becoming a first call player. "I've never forgotten my father's advice the first time I ever played with him: 'Keep the time, stay out of the way, and tell a story.'" Weidman's move to the jazz cauldron of New York was inevitable.

Not long after relocating he found himself on the bandstand with jazz greats Cecil Payne, Harold Ousley, Bobby Watson, and Pepper Adams, before aligning himself with conceptualist Steve Coleman and the MBase Collective. "Steve's compositions force you to think differently; playing his very demanding rhythms and harmonies is really challenging. It gave me a freer outlook on music." Challenging himself musically continues to be of paramount importance to James. James has benefited greatly from his fertile 35-year partnership with acclaimed saxophonist TK Blue, Randy Weston's longtime musical director. "When I first met TK in 1978 we were both writing and our band Taja was a great laboratory for both of us in terms of trying out our ideas. We continue to constantly challenge each other," says Weidman, "our playing together nowadays is more about intuition than notes. TK is more of a spiritual brother, which takes our learning process to a whole different level," says James.

He has been a welcomed presence on myriad bandstands, including the world's major venues and festivals; just a partial listing includes the Montreux, Monterey, Newport, North Sea and JVC Jazz Festivals, Carnegie Hall, Birdland, Blue Note, Sweet Basil, Village Vanguard, Iridium and Jazz Standard.

Soup Deep Dish Music DD-101 released 1982 recorded June 1981 in Stroudsburg, PA/USA	Patrick Brennan, alto sax Marvin Blackman, tenor sax Fred Parcells, tenor sax, bass trombone James Weidman, piano, organ John Loehrke, bass Dan Spencer, drums
Something 'Bout Believing Twin Records CD 899 recorded recorded March 1999 in Hackensack, NJ/USA	Jay Hoggard, vibes James Weidman, organ, piano Belden Bullock, bass Pheeroan akLaff, drums
The Right Place JHVM Recordings JHVM0001 recorded January 2003 in Waterford, CT/USA	Jay Hoggard, vibes, marimba Dwight Andrews, soprano sax, bass clarinet, flute Hilton Ruiz, piano James Weidman, organ, piano Belden Bullock, bass Pheeroan akLaff, drums Asher Delerme, percussion Kwaku Kwaakye, percussion
Songs Of Spiritual Love JHVM Recordings JHVM0002	Jay Hoggard, vibes James Weidman, organ, piano
Radio Music Society Heads Up International HUI-331174-02 recorded in New York, NY/USA	Esperanza Spalding, bass, vocals Daniel Blake, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, flute Kama Bell, alto sax, clarinet Renato Caranto, alto sax John Carey, alto sax Stanley Mathabane, alto sax, tenor sax Andrew Olson, alto sax Sam Seacrist, alto sax Kyle Zimmerman, alto sax Hayden Conrad, tenor sax Nicole Glover, tenor sax Joe Lovano, tenor sax Tivon Pennicott, tenor sax Aaron Reihs, tenor sax Jeff Rathbone, baritone sax Anthony Diamond, sax Stan Bock, trombone Dan Brewster, trombone Jeff Galindo, trombone Ian Garner, trombone Corey King, trombone Javier Nero, trombone Ashton Summers, trombone Matt Warming, trombone Jerry Stalnaker, bass trombone Darren Barrett, trumpet Kiran Bosley, trumpet Noah Conrad, trumpet Noah Hocker, trumpet Benjamin G. McDonald, trumpet Tree Palmedo, trumpet Benjamin Seacrist, trumpet Igmar Thomas, trumpet Gilad Hekselman, guitar Jef Lee Johnson, guitar Lionel Loueke, guitar, vocals Ray Angry, organ Leo Genovese, Fender Rhodes, piano Janice Scroggins, piano James Weidman, organ Olivia De Prato, violin Jody Redhage, cello Q-Tip, glockenspiel, vocals Terri Lyne Carrington, drums Jack DeJohnette, drums Billy Hart, drums Lyndon Rochelle, drums Jamey Haddad, percussion Algebra Blessett, vocals Lalah Hathaway, vocals Savannah Children's Choir
Spiritual Impressions Inner Circle Music INCM 076CD recorded August 2017 in Paramus, NJ/USA	James Weidman, organ, piano Anthony Nelson, soprano sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute Harvie S., bass Vince Ector, drums
Raise Your Spirit Consciousness JHVM Recordings JHVM008	Jay Hoggard, vibes Dwight Andres, soprano sax, bass clarinet James Weidman, organ, piano Nat Adderley jr., piano Kenny Davis, bass Pheeroan Aklaff, drums
Retro Focus JHVM Recordings JHVM009	Jay Hoggard, vibes Dwight Andrews, soprano sax, bass clarinet Gary Bartz, alto sax James Weidman, piano, organ Belden Bullock, bass Leon Lee Dorsey, bass Pheeroan AkLaff, drums Winard Harper, drums Yoron Israel, drums Kwaaku Kwaache Obeng, donno Asher Delerme, gankogui Willie Martinez, congas

contact:	jamesweidman@att.net
homepage:	www.jamesweidman.com
	Click on the logo to see James' tour dates.

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