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The Wee Trio

The Wee Trio is a collaborative musical exploration consisting of vibraphonist James Westfall, bassist Dan Loomis, and drummer Jared Schonig. In what started as a regular collective of Brooklyn musicians who got together to jam, chemistry quickly formed and thus was born The Wee Trio.

The band kicked off their inaugural tour performing throughout New York and Pennsylvania playing at a few clubs, a Jazz Festival, and an Artist Residency at a local University. The band reconvened back in Brooklyn to record and document the trio. The documented recording entitled Capital Diner Vol. 1 features original compositions by the trio with a few standards composed by Kurt Cobain, Sufjan Stevens, and Thelonious Monk. Needless to say the groups eclectic style has really helped them stand out in the New York jazz scene.

The Wee Trio comes from different areas of the USA; Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Houston. It wasn’t until Jared Schonig and Dan Loomis met, while attending Eastman School of Music, that the hook up was laid down. Meanwhile James Westfall was chosen by Herbie Hancock and Terence Blanchard to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute. After finishing his studies, he moved to Brooklyn, coincidentally, across the street from the apartment the rhythm section shared.

Each member of the Wee Tree is a leader in their own right. Their respective recordings show the legacy of their visionary bandleading. Westfall's Independent was released on Bionic Records. Jazztimes writes "...declarative and uplifting, incorporating elements of rock and hip-hop...Westfall's style is distinctive" Meanwhile, Loomis’ I Love Paris was released on Jazz Excursion, was praised as "...one of the top releases of 2007" by Scott Yanow of All Music Guide.

While rooted in Jazz The Wee Trio finds ways to break boundaries encompassing their other roots in Rock and Fusion.

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6
Interview

The Wee Trio: Full of Surprises

Read "The Wee Trio: Full of Surprises" reviewed by Geno Thackara


Don't be fooled by the name. The members of the Wee Trio are normal-looking and normal-sized guys, their ambition if anything is deluxe, and their compositional scope virtually limitless. While such a moniker can only keep them humble--not that they'd seem to need the help--they've always kept an outsized willingness to follow fascinating ideas and embrace the unexpected. Picture Al Pacino's sneaky lawyer in The Devil's Advocate explaining his unassuming appearance: “I'm the little guy. They don't see me comin.'" ...

10
Album Review

The Wee Trio: Wee +3

Read "Wee +3" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


The Wee Trio delivered quite a bit of variety over the course of its first four albums. The first two--Capitol Diner, Vol. I (Bionic Records, 2008) and Capitol Diner, Vol. II: Animal Style (Bionic Records, 2010)--established the musical ground and syntax that are part and parcel of this three-way partnership; Ashes To Ashes: A David Bowie Intraspective (Bionic Record, 2012) demonstrated much of what can be done to mutate and honor David Bowie's music, almost foretelling the growth of Bowie-inflected ...

2
Album Review

The Wee Trio: Live at the Bistro

Read "Live at the Bistro" reviewed by Luigi Sforza


La bella copertina dell'ultimo CD del Wee Trio--in puro stile fumettistico pop art, alla Roy Lichtenstein, comprensivo di onomatopee--rappresenta i tre musicisti nell'atto di suonare. La musica poi è un'esperienza dinamica sfaccettata, in sintonia con le possibili declinazioni di una società in continuo movimento. L'accostamento tra pop art e Live at the Bistro -disco che fotografa la performance del gruppo nell'omonimo locale di St. Louis ad un paio d'anni di distanza da Ashes to Ashes: a David Bowie ...

129
Album Review

The Wee Trio: Ashes To Ashes - A David Bowie Intraspective

Read "Ashes To Ashes - A David Bowie Intraspective" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Vibraphonist James Westfall participated with several New Orleans-based musicians to cover the music of pop icon David Bowie and took the concept further by using this premise for The Wee Trio's third album. The band projects youthful vigor along the lines of The Bad Plus and Medeski, Martin & Wood; firmly rooted in the jazz vernacular, the trio adheres to Bowie's famous melodies and song forms, all enacted with jazzy variations and plentiful doses of improvisation. “1984" is ...

310
Album Review

The Wee Trio: Capitol Diner Vol. 2: Animal Style

Read "Capitol Diner Vol. 2: Animal Style" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Based loosely in New York, The Wee Trio's origins form a cross-section of the United States, with drummer Jared Schonig from Los Angeles, vibraphonist James Westfall living in New Orleans and bassist Dan Loomis hailing from St. Louis. Notwithstanding that there isn't an abundance of vibraphone-centered recordings such as Joe Locke's For the Love of You (E1 Music, 2010) and Stefon Harris' Urbanus (Concord Music Group, 2009), The Wee Trio holds high the mallet-based banner in good form, showing itself ...

296
Album Review

The Wee Trio: Capitol Diner Vol. 1

Read "Capitol Diner Vol. 1" reviewed by Troy Collins


Jazz has a long history of up and coming musicians attempting to incorporate the popular music of their time into the standard repertoire. Some acts have made such ideology their calling card. For example, both the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Sex Mob regularly include contemporary pop songs in their set lists. As such, the cover of Nirvana's early underground hit “About a Girl" (complete with hyper speed “Rhapsody in Blue" interjections) that opens the Wee Trio's debut album Capitol ...

627
Album Review

The Wee Trio: Capitol Diner Vol. 1

Read "Capitol Diner Vol. 1" reviewed by J Hunter


"Lightning in a bottle" is an excellent metaphor for The Wee Trio's Capitol Diner Vol. 1, given how the music crackles like high-tension wires in a rainstorm. But it's the level of electricity that is the surprise. On its face, TWT's instrumental makeup--vibes with a rhythm section--doesn't seem to lend itself to any kind of aggressive musical behavior. That's an assumption and, like most assumptions, it's dead wrong.

James Westfall's disquieting opening to Kurt Cobain's “About a Girl" is the ...

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1

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Arturo Sandoval, Moon Hooch, Paula West, Hudson, The Wee Trio, and more

Jazz this week: Arturo Sandoval, Moon Hooch, Paula West, Hudson, The Wee Trio, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It's a big week for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with a half-dozen noteworthy headliners performing in various styles visiting the area over the next few days. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, October 11 The weekly “Grand Center Jazz Crawl" features Mark Wallace at KDHX's Magnolia Cafe, a jam session with bassist Bob Deboo and friends at Kranzberg Arts Center, and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor at The Dark Room. Also on Wednesday, the students of Washington University's Monday ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Jimmy Greene, The Wee Trio, Nevermore Jazz Ball, and more

Jazz this week: Jimmy Greene, The Wee Trio, Nevermore Jazz Ball, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This weekend will see swing dancers from all over the country converging on St. Louis for the annual Nevermore Jazz Ball, plus the local debut of a Grammy nominated saxophonist, a homecoming gig for a St. Louis expat with a new recording to promote, and much more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, November 2 Saxophonist Jimmy Greene makes his St. Louis debut as a bandleader with the first of four nights of performances at Jazz at the Bistro. The ...

1

Recording

The Wee Trio Announces The Release Of Wee + 3, Plus Upcoming Tour Dates!

The Wee Trio Announces The Release Of Wee + 3, Plus Upcoming Tour Dates!

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

THE WEE TRIO Announces The Release of Wee + 3: James Westfall (vibes), Dan Loomis (bass), and Jared Schonig (drums), Joined by Very Special Guests: Nicholas Payton, Nir Felder, and Fabian Almazán Available September 30, 2016 on Bionic Records. iTunes Pre-Order! Wee + 3 Tour Dates: Oct 22: Sunnyvale Performing Arts Center, Sunnyvale, CA Oct 23: The Blue Whale, Los Angeles, CA Oct 24: Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High, Los Angeles, CA ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: The Wee Trio, Take 6, J.D. Parran and George Sams, Scott Kirby, Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola, and More

Jazz This Week: The Wee Trio, Take 6, J.D. Parran and George Sams, Scott Kirby, Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

With spring appearing finally to have sprung here in St. Louis, it should be a fine weekend to get out and hear some live jazz and creative music, and fortunately, our local stages will be filled with intriguing possibilities. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, Good 4 The Soul plays their monthly gig at  BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups; Washington University's jazz studies students will perform a free concert to wrap up this semester's Jazz at Holmes series; the Lemp ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: The Wee Trio, Yellowjackets, Ronnie Burrage, Dianne Reeves and Peter Martin, Diana Krall, Ahleuchatistas, and More

Jazz This Week: The Wee Trio, Yellowjackets, Ronnie Burrage, Dianne Reeves and Peter Martin, Diana Krall, Ahleuchatistas, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It's a jam-packed week for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, so much so that there's no time to even attempt a clever opening paragraph for this post. So let's go straight to the highlights... Tonight, the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra presents “A Tribute to Maynard Ferguson" with guest soloist Jim Manley on trumpet at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Also tonight, The Wee Trio, featuring St. Louis native Dan Loomis on bass, is in town to support the ...

Festival

Jazz This Week: Fareed Haque's Mathgames, Jeff Coffin, Johnny Boyd, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, the Wee Trio, and More

Jazz This Week: Fareed Haque's Mathgames, Jeff Coffin, Johnny Boyd, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, the Wee Trio, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

If you've checked out the first three parts of StLJN's fall 2013 jazz preview, you already may have realized that we're heading into what could be the busiest three weeks of the season, with a wide assortment of touring musicians and special events coming up. Here's a look at the highlights of the next few days... Tonight, guitarist Fareed Haque brings his fusion band Mathgames to The Gramophone; saxophonist Chad Evans leads a quartet in a free concert for the ...

Recording

The Wee Trio Announces The Release Of: Live At The Bistro + A National Tour

The Wee Trio Announces The Release Of:  Live At The Bistro + A National Tour

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

" . . . infectious . . . raucous . . . More, please" —The Boston Globe “Moments of majesty" —The Philadelphia Inquirer THE WEE TRIO Announces The Release of: LIVE AT THE BISTRO The incredible energy & venturesome spirit of The Wee Trio recorded live over two sold-out nights at the award-winning Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis' Grand Center Arts District (September 17, 2013 on Bionic Records) + A national tour in support of the new recording ...

Performance / Tour

The Wee Trio Live At Subculture On Thursday, June 6!

The Wee Trio Live At Subculture On Thursday, June 6!

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

James Westfall (vibes), Dan Loomis (bass), Jared Schonig (drums) SubCulture is located at 45 Bleecker Street, NYC, doors 6:30 show 7:30, $12-15 For more info & TKTS call 212 533 5470 The Wee Trio will perform music from their critically acclaimed discography: Capitol Diner Vol. 1, Capitol Diner Vol. 2 - Animal Style, Ashes to Ashes - A David Bowie Intraspective. The Wee Trio will be appearing at SubCulture NYC on June 6, kicking off a busy second half of ...

Interview

STLJN Interview: Dan Loomis of the Wee Trio on Recording Live at Jazz at the Bistro

STLJN Interview: Dan Loomis of the Wee Trio on Recording Live at Jazz at the Bistro

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

As mentioned several times before in this space, The Wee Trio (pictured, top left) are in St. Louis this weekend, performing and recording a live album on Friday and Saturday nights at Jazz at the Bistro. Though scheduling complications over the past week rendered fruitless our attempts to connect via phone with bassist and St. Louis native Dan Loomis, he was kind enough to respond to a few questions about the impending gig/recording session via email:  StLJN: Your last album ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: The Wee Trio; Mardra and Reggie Thomas; CD Release Event for Swagler, Slaughter, Jost and Morrison; and More

Jazz This Week: The Wee Trio; Mardra and Reggie Thomas; CD Release Event for Swagler, Slaughter, Jost and Morrison; and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

With the annual Mardi Gras parade this Saturday, Valentine's Day just around the corner, and the usual mix of other perormances happening around town, there's an eclectic selection of jazz and creative music on St. Louis stages this weekend. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, saxophonist Jason Swagler, guitarist Eric Slaughter, bassist Nick Jost and drummer Marty Morrison will promote the release of their first collaborative album, Rough Stuff, with two sets at Jazz at the Bistro. The ticket price includes ...

"'Lightning in a bottle'" is an excellent metaphor for The Wee Trio's Capitol Diner Vol. 1, given how the music crackles like high-tension wires in a rainstorm." "grabs the listener by the lapels and yanks-hard." —J Hunter, All About Jazz

"James Westfall, Dan Loomis, and Jared Schonig play with fervent audacity, stretching the kinetic limits of their respective instruments." —Troy Collins, All About Jazz

"The Wee Trio often veers from the expected...questioning the rules of jazz orthodoxy. They keep the music substantive and riddled with direction surprises. Definitely a group to watch. " —Peter Margasak, Downbeat

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Wee +3

Bionic Records
2016

buy

Live At the Bistro

Bionic Records
2013

buy

Ashes To Ashes - A...

Bionic Records
2012

buy

Capitol Diner Vol. 2:...

Bionic Records
2010

buy

Capitol Diner Vol. 1

Bionic Records
2008

buy

Queen Bitch

From: Live at the Bistro
By The Wee Trio

Videos

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