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 Dave
Weckl decided to fulfill his dream of starting a live
band in 1998. Having released three solo projects that
featured top jazz performers such as Chick Corea,
Anthony Jackson, Michael Brecker and Steve Gadd, Dave
was driven to write and produce music driven by band
chemistry and delivered personally to audiences
worldwide.
The original DWB lineup included two musicians
Dave had known, respected, and played with for years;
Jay Oliver (keyboards), who had been Dave's good
friend since high school, and Tom Kennedy (bass),
who had jammed with Dave since the age of 15. Jay had
been very involved in writing and production of Dave's
original three solo records, while Tom also appeared on
many of the songs. Rounding out the lineup were two
highly-respected world-class musicians in Brandon
Fields (saxophones) and Buzz Feiten
(guitars).
The band's first release, Rhythm of the Soul, was
truly a band effort. While the solo records had featured
many different artists "sitting in," ROS was
about collaboration and chemistry that started in the
studio and grew stronger as live performances.
As a truly collaborative effort, ROS also
introduced a consistency in theme and feel that comes
with a total band effort. Both sonically and
thematically, one could sense something more organic and
loose - with R&B/Blues, funk and New Orleans-inspired
textures.
"The Zone" kicked it all off with thick pocket grooves,
soulful organ and guitar solos, and a fat bottom end.
"101 Shuffle, "Mud Sauce," (with Tom on an upright
bass), and "Designer Stubble" introduced a myriad of
textures that many fans had never heard in Dave's music
- with driving guitar leads and authentic R&B flavors.
And the mysterious "Someone's Watching" featured
beautiful sax leads with undercurrent of warm ambience.
The "band sensibility" manifested itself in a different
way when Dave, Jay, and Tom recorded "Transition Jam."
Symbolic of Dave's goal to put together a band with his
longtime friends, this particular song captured three
friends, 22 years after they had first jammed together,
jamming again in a studio as accomplished professional
musicians - in a band together.
And there was more to it than that. As Dave describes in
the record's liner notes, "we wanted everyone to hear
the awesome Tom Kennedy, so we decided to set up a
couple of mics and roll tape...Yeah Tommy!"
The band pulled off some ambitious jams in "Access
Denied" (including Frank Gambale on guitar and Steve
Tavaglione on tenor sax), and "Big B Little B" (also
featuring Frank and Bob Malach on tenor sax). Dave paid
tribute to the passing of legendary R&B/Gospel pianist
Richard Tee and the birth of his daughter,
Claire, with "Song for Claire."
Synergy (1999) was named for the spontaneous
manner in which much of the record was written. In the
album's liner notes, Dave says "I decided to have a band
writing day, rehearsal kind of jam session, which ended
up yielding the foundation for almost half of the
material for the CD."
"High Life" kicked this record off with a bright groove,
displaced syncopations, and extended sax and keys solos
- wrapping up with a powerful drum solo.
Buzz wrote two strong tunes on the album - "Panda's
Dream," with strong, defined riffs that were a trademark
aspect of the band's sound at that time, and the
delicate, acoustic flavored "A Simple Prayer." Both
added greatly to this record.
Of course, a highlight of the record is "Cultural
Concurrence," an all-percussion piece featuring looped
African drum sounds and trademark drum set soloing. This
piece is followed by a newer version of the old
favorite, "Tower of Inspiration," called "Tower '99."
Fans of the original version on the "Master Plan" record
appreciated the funky/groovy feel to the newer one.
Prior to the band's next record, in 2000, both Jay and
Buzz left to pursue the many other projects on their
respective plates. This is when Steve Weingart
joined. Appropriately, the new lineup produced the
band's next record, entitled "Transition."
This record offered several tunes that have become fan
favorites at live shows on the band's live record (LIVE...and
Very Plugged In), including "Wake Up," "Braziluba,"
"Crossing Paths," and "Just for the Record." The record
also featured the addition of Remo percussion to Dave's
kit, and his creative use of these new drums shined all
over the record - particularly on the last track,
entitled "Amanecer."
Likewise, "Perpetual Motion" found the new lineup
maturing and producing many interesting and angular
grooves, such as on "Double Up" and "Child's Play."
"Mesmer-Eyes" became a live favorite with its keyboard
and sax duel, as did "Tiempo de Festival."
In 2002, the band produced its first-ever and long
awaited live album. A two-disc package, Live...and
Very Plugged In captured the band at its peak of
energy and playfulness.
Every song on "Live..." has its own unique turns
from the studio version and there are plenty of
signature moments of comedy - some planned and some not
planned. "Hesitation" finds the audience rolling in
laughter as Dave and Gary Meek play a short intro to Pee
Wee Ellis' "The Chicken." And...Tom's sense of humor
shines when he answers someone's cell phone ringing in
the audience with his own interpretation on the bass
during his solo on Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning."
But this is an album of serious music - highlighted by
the interplay of four great musicians who, together and
independently, bring new energy to many of the band's
best tunes. And Dave takes his drum solo to all-new
heights. A track every drummer should hear, "Cultural
Concurrence" finds Dave exploring many corners of his
repertoire, from the opening brush work and underlying
double-bass drum pulse to a fantastic percussion
movement, signature drum set soloing, and tasteful
cymbal work to close out the piece.
In 2005, the band released Multiplicity. The
record featured a diverse lineup of nine songs
highlighting the writing talents of Steve, Gary and
Dave, who spent many hours together in Dave's studio
composing most of the material. But the performance
talents of all the band members shined through on this
album.
From the bright opening track, "Watch Your Step," to the
delicate "Inner Vision," "Multiplicity" had a multitude
of textures. The funky "Watch Your Step" offered a solid
groove building into a drum solo in the middle. Dave sat
behind the board for this entire record - yielding a
very precise sound not unlike his approach to music.
2006 saw another transition for the band when Steve
Weingart left to pursue other projects. Jay Oliver
returned for some exciting North American tour dates
that included old DWB favorites and some standards.
Though the band is not currently active, Dave continues
to collaborate with Gary, Tom, and Jay on a number of
projects.
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