David Weiss & Point of Departure CD Release Party for “Wake Up Call” March 30 at Nublu
Revive Music and Ropeadope Records are hosting a CD release party for Point of Departure’s new CD “Wake Up Call” at Nulbu on Thursday, March 30.
We will also be performing a CD release party upstate in Marlboro, NY at The Falcon this Sunday, April 2.
The new CD features material from the late ’60s and early ’70s, continuing our quest to further explore and redefine the music from that turbulent era. We recorded tunes by Tony Williams Lifetime, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Charles Moore, Kenny Cox, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson and the Brazilian avant-garde/fusion group Grupo Um.
The CD essentially features two incarnations of the band. There a few tracks with most of the original band, J.D. Allen- Tenor Sax, Nir Felder and Ben Eunson- Guitar, Matt Clohesy- Bass and Kush Abadey- Drums. The bulk of the CD is given over to the new revamped version of the group that features Myron Walden- Tenor Sax, Ben Eunson and Travis Reuter- Guitar, Matt Clohesy- Bass and Kush Abadey- Drums.
There has already been a lot of great press for the new CD. See below for some of the nicer things the critics have been saying about this new CD. You can click on the links if you would like to read the whole article.
The collision of old and new continues on the excellent new release from trumpeter David Weiss. This is music of the past given a fresh voice for today. Wake Up Call is a solid example of how limitless modern jazz’s creative arc truly is. But perhaps its true value is the way Weiss & Point of Departure prove that forward-thinking music truly has no expiration date if it’s embraced by musicians who don’t subscribe to the concept of “endings.”
—Dave Sumner The Best New Jazz on Bandcamp
Trumpeter David Weiss’ Point of Departure is one of the most exciting power units working today. Having spent more than a decade combining the tonality of In A Silent Way-era Miles and the electric spirituality of classic Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weiss and Point of Departure create a bold jazz noise entirely their own.
The quintet’s excellent new album on Ropeadope, Wake Up Call, features inventive interpretations of material by the likes of John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Tony Williams and unsung Detroit icon Charles Moore.
—Ron Hart Observer
Point of Departure has a dual commitment to jazz’s experimental drive and its historical lineage.
—Nate Chinen WBGO
Trumpeter David Weiss leads two fantastic bands devoted to honoring and updating jazz history: the Cookers, an all-star team of ’60s and ’70s veterans, and Point Of Departure, a group of youngsters who explore the territory where hard bop and early fusion meet. The music seems to shimmer in the air, as Weiss and saxophonist Myron Walden essay the melodies in thoughtful unison and bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Kush Abadey pound the rhythms home.
—Phil Freeman Stereogum
If you wanted to know what is truly happening right now in American jazz, you could do worse than follow the Point of Departure band around. Weiss is an astute trumpet player (as this album proves), but his true callings are talent scout, bandleader, ensemble conceptualist, and curator of jazz classics that need revisiting.
—Thomas Conrad Stereophile
The standout is Weiss himself, who never sounded so confident or melodic. His most impressive work so far on record. And his haunting arrangements are outstanding. A superlative record and yet another feather in David Weiss’ creative cap.
—Tony Hall Jazz Wise
Weiss sets a high bar for today’s generation of mainstream modernists. If Wake Up Call doesn’t posit a brand new future, it reiterates how far jazz has come, and moves confidently toward the next horizon.
—Howard Mandel Down Beat
Wake Up Call gives us much hope that there remains much potential in this arena yet to be realized. He also leaves us with this takeaway: music in transition is the most enthralling music of all.
—S. Victor Aaron Something Else
There’s always something engrossing about David Weiss & Point of Departure. The trumpeter’s quintet has for some time now burrowed deeply into infectious 1970s post-bop and fusion material, playing the not-too-common hits, and in every configuration of this band, there’s always a spectacular energy about them that makes each return something to get excited about.
—Anthony Dean-Harris Nextbop
Trumpeter David Weiss never fails to give us amazing music, no matter what the setting… As with some of David’s other projects, the music is a look back at the future of modern jazz in the late 60s and early 70s – with a spotlight on amazing compositions by artists like Wayne Shorter, Kenny Cox, Joe Henderson, Tony Williams, Charles Moore, and John McLaughlin – music that was years ahead of its time when written, and which gets even more forward-thinking treatment here by the group.
—Jazz Chill
“Wake Up Call” is a superb new chapter in the ongoing saga of David Weiss and Point of Departure. The two guitars, and lyrical solos from all three guitarists help add a sharper jazz-rock focus to the ensemble, and the expanded repertoire continues to shed light on an underrated period of jazz history. The explorations of the material refine the band’s approach to a very unique and specific language, subtly pushing at the boundaries of acoustic jazz and moving it forward. Though still early, “Wake Up Call” is a strong contender for year end best of lists. Rating: 9.5/10
—Blueceej
You can order the CD from Bandcamp here download the CD from iTunes here
We also are premiering a new Live in the Studio video today. You can watch it here
We will also be announcing more tour dates soon. I will keep you posted of course.
The Cookers head to Brazil April 7 & 8, Play Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at J@LC May 3-6 and Bethesda Blues & Jazz May 17.
The Cookers have just returned from a beautiful tour of Mexico. We played Guadalajara, Torreón, Mexico City and Cuernavaca. We also did a workshop in Mexico City with selected students that was very inspirational to us. The students were all so well prepared and had such a thirst and curiosity about the music that it was a pleasure to work with them. Jazz is truly reaching everyone these days. We are now gearing up to go to Brazil and then we will be back in New York for a return engagement at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. We will also be heading to the Washington DC area for a gig at Bethesda Blues & Jazz and then we will be off to Australia in June. We have a lot more things in the works and we will keep you posted of course.
