Alex Weitz, a composer and saxophonist, began his career in Arizona in 1994 as a member the Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Band. He was a skilled musician who mastered the music of its name and the classic repertoire by Count Basie. He was a strong swing player and he is now an artist who understands that to build a sustainable future one must use the raw materials of the past. He was able to tap the Southwest’s traditions to get more minerals that he needed to support his move to the Southeast where he attended the University of Miami Frost School of Music. He completed his undergraduate Jazz Saxophone Performance studies and his graduate Studio Jazz Writing studies. There he also gained invaluable mentorship and experience with the Henry Mancini Institute Jazz Septet, which Terence Blanchard is renowned for. Blanchard encouraged Weitz to strengthen his voice. He then graduated from the Miami program with a deep knowledge of composition, which imbues his originals in strong, memorable melodies as well as structural integrity. He improvises around these melodies with the same classical precision that he uses to create them. Alex has focused his musical efforts on performing, writing, and producing music since graduation. Their debut album Chroma was released in March 2013. After a long wait, their second record Luma will be released in March 2017. Weitz has been invited to perform at top venues such as the Kennedy Center with Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead, Monterey Jazz Festival, the Arsht Center’s “Inspirations”, the Tucson Jazz Festival, Gusman Hall, Jeff Watts and Dave Liebman, as well as numerous local venues with his group and as a sideman. Weitz was awarded the DownBeat Outstanding Undergraduate Soloist Award of 2013 and ASCAP recognition as an outstanding young jazz composer. His original song “Song for Peace”, which he wrote, was used as the main theme song for Bettan’s Taxi in 2014. Weitz is poised to make a big splash in the coming year, with Luma releasing soon. It’s only a matter time before his distinctive voice will be heard by discerning ears. From www.alexweitz.com
