Dan Weiss

Three-time Shifting Foundation grantee Dan Weiss has been hailed as one of the top five jazz drummers by The New York Times. Weiss’s deep study of jazz, Indian classical, contemporary classical, West African music, and metal has helped him create a unique sound that transcends conventional genres.

He has released four recordings with his trio: Dedication (2022), Utica Box (2019), Timshel (2011), and Now Yes When (2006). Weiss also leads a 16-piece ensemble, which has released the acclaimed albums Sixteen: Drummers Suite (2016) and Fourteen (2014), which made The New York Times’ top ten best recordings of 2014. His project, Starebaby—an amalgam of jazz, metal, and new music featuring Craig Taborn, Matt Mitchell, Ben Monder, and Trevor Dunn—has two releases: Natural Selection (2020) and Starebaby (2018).

Weiss has been studying tabla under Pandit Samir Chatterjee for twenty-five years and has performed with the legendary Ashish Khan and Ramesh Misra. Weiss has released two albums where he performs classical Indian repertoire on drum set: Jhaptal Drumset Solo (2011) and Teental Drumset Solo (2005). He also recorded a solo tabla album, 3dcd (2007).Recently, Weiss and longtime collaborator Miles Okazaki released a double LP, Music for Drums and Guitar (2021). In March 2024, Weiss released Even Odds, a new trio record featuring Miguel Zenón and Matt Mitchell.