Tea for Two

Walt Weiskopf | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 26, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Criss Cross
• ASIN: B0007Y09MI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #420,257 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Tasty Brew! - 4 &1/2 stars, May 20, 2005

By 

John Tapscott (Canada) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tea for Two (Audio CD)

Walt Weiskopf and Andy Fusco make a very compatible and tightly-knit two saxophone front-line. On "Tea for Two" they lead a finely tuned group though a well-balanced 56 minute program of five jazz standards and four Weiskopf originals (one co-written with Fusco). Walt and Andy have been musical soul-mates since their days in the Buddy Rich band in the early '80's. (You can see them together on the "Buddy Rich at the Montreal Jazz Festival" DVD). Fusco is a fine hard-bop altoist who plays slippery and sometimes unpredictable solos. Weiskopf has developed into a major modern tenor soloist with a personal sound. His improvisations on this CD are consistently ear-catching and rewarding.

The music here might be termed modern hard-bop, but it never becomes too difficult or involved for the listener to follow. Indeed, there is a brightness to this recording in both the tunes and the recording quality which is quite appealing. There is plenty of variety, as well. The standard "Tea for Two" opens the CD with a very tricky unison "head" which transforms this older tune into something out of the ordinary. Up-tempo burners, like "Budo"; Keith Jarrett's "Shades of Jazz"; and the closing "Unison" open up for some hard-swinging solos. "So In Love" is enhanced by several changes in the underlying rhythmic pattern. Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks" is a beautifully expressed ballad which nicely captures the close musical connection of the reed men. Weiskopf's originals, "Adios", "Sweet Melissa", and "Waltz for Judy" are just as interesting as the standards.

The rhythm section (Joel Weiskopf, Paul Gill, and Billy Drummond) is consistently excellent, and swings at every tempo with no feeling of restriction. Everything here flows with the forward motion which is characteristc of the best jazz. Joel Weiskopf is an especially fine piano soloist.

According to the liner notes, Walt Weiskopf approached this recording with a greater sense of anxiety than usual. None of that comes through on that recording, though. "Tea for Two" is a very uplifting and enjoyable recording. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sax duo of Buddy Rich Alumni, November 21, 2006

By 

Pat Nava "Patrick "The Lab Rat"" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tea for Two (Audio CD)

I'll make it short: I've always been impressed by both these sax players. Andy has always been a firey soloist and Walt the Coltrane-type thinker. Absolutely first-hand music and soloists in this band. I've had a chance to see both of them live with Buddy in the early 80's and have many great 35mm shots of them. Fantastic CD.