April 2001

Kurt Weil and Vibes Revisited
Moving Forward-Reaching Back
TCB

By Jack Sohmer

This Weil release is convincing, straightahead contemporary jazz. On board here are such inventive sidemen as deep-toned tenorman and altoist Christoph Grab, pianist Stefan Stahel, bassist Mark Egan, drummer Danny Gottlieb and guitarist Joe Beck. Weil's 10 jazz originals, since they are stretched over a slightly longer playing time than Freeman's pieces, naturally allow for greater solo opportunities for his bandmates, of whom Stahel and the saxophonist are the most compelling.