Steve Weingart
Im März 1966 in Dayton, Ohio geboren.
Bereits mit drei Jahren hat Steve Weingart angefangen, Klavier zu spielen - seine Begabung zeigte sich in vielen Auszeichnungen, die er während seines doch eher klassisch orientierten Unterrichts in seiner Heimatstadt Dayton, Ohio, erhielt. Sein Interesse an anderen Musikrichtungen hat ihn dann zu Jazz-Größen wie Joe Zawinul, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea oder Red Garland gebracht, die ihn stark beeinflussten.
Dank eines Stipendiums konnte er von 1984 an am Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Jazz studieren und seine Fähigkeiten als Pianist und Komponist verfeinern. Er hat es jedoch seinen Künsten an und dem Programmieren von Keyboards zu verdanken, dass er sich in der Musikszene von Cincinnati einen Namen machte. Dennoch zog Steve einen Tapetenwechsel vor und entschloss sich, nach dem Studium nach Kalifornien zu gehen. Beheimatet in Burbank tourt er nun durch alle Welt mit der Dave Weckl Band, Steve Lukather sowie Cab und Virgil Donati.
Steve Weingart & Steve Lukather (El Gruppo)
Neben seinen Auftritten als Sideman hat Steve seine neue Jazz/Funk/World-CD "Life Times" im Alleingang geschrieben, aufgenommen und produziert. Mehr Informationen hierzu finden sich auf seiner Website http://www.steveweingart.com/.
 
Equipment:
Keyboards:
Yamaha S90
Yamaha Motif 7
Clavia Nord Lead 2
*New* Waldorf Q+
Roland XP-50
Korg Trinity Pro X
Sequitial Circuits Prophet 5
Rhodes Chroma
Steinway & Sons Model B Grand Piano
Soundmodule:
Roland S760
Roland JV-1080
Roland D-550
Roland JD-990
Korg Wavestation SR
Yamaha MU90R
Alesis DM Pro
Recording Equipment:
Macintosh-G4 800 Computer
Mark of the Unicorn-Digital Performer
Mark of the Unicorn-2408 Audio Systems
Mark of the Unicorn-Midi Express XT
Shure KSM44 Mics for Acoustic Piano Recording
Das Interview im Mai 2008:
Hey Steve how are you doing?
Things are busy, but going very well. I'm really happy these days. I'm on tour in Japan with Simon Phillips until May 31st. I'll fly home on July 1st, then start rehearsals with Luke for the "No Jazz Tour" the next day. I feel very fortunate to be working with these great musicians.
In December you started working with Steve Lukather on the new album Ever Changing Times. How did such things getting started? By a telephone call?
I stayed in touch with Luke since the El Grupo days. There were some phone calls, e-mails and dinner hangs. Luke told me that he wanted to have me play on some things on his new CD, and one day he called me to come by the studio.
How did you know each other?
The first time I met Luke was at a jazz club in Studio City (L.A.) called "La Ve Lee". I was playing there with Marco Mendoza and Joey Heredia. I think it may have been Joey who introduced us. I remember Trev was there that night as well. We hit it off really well. I remember I was kind of shy because I knew of Luke from the vast work he is known for. He complimented me highly, and I remember hearing the phrase "adult chords" for the first time. hahaha!!!
Have all the songs have been completed or could you realize some of your own ideas?
The songs were pretty much finished by the time I came into the studio. It was pretty amazing to walk into the studio and hear this 'gold mine' of music. I remember I was blown away by these songs even without completed vocals! Luke gave me complete freedom in the sections where I played. In that way it was my ideas, but with respect to the compositions.
How long took the recording?
It was a relatively quick experience, maybe a couple of hours. I remember it not being too long because we went to dinner after recording.
What was your equipment at the studio, what will be your live set?
I used my Nord Lead 3 along with my computer- a MacBook Pro running 'Logic' software to access synth plug ins. I know I'll be using that same configuration on the road, but using 'Live' software instead of 'Logic'. I'll also be using another keyboard for standard synth, piano, electric piano and organ type sounds.
On the live tour you also have to play the parts from Jaff Babko, Randy Goodrum, they are also part of the new album. Have you met them?
I haven't had the honor of meeting Randy in person yet, but love all of his music works.
I have known Jeff for many years. He is one of the best! I've got a tremendous amount of respect for him-he's a great player and one of the funniest, nicest people I've ever met. I worked with Jeff on another project with Jason Scheff (bassist and vocalist in the band "Chicago"). We recorded live simultaneously. We didn't actually have any music or any pre conceived ideas. It was just a jam session... what was going to happen would just happen, and we'd see how it went when we listened to the play back. We had so much fun, gave each other so much space and complimented each other, it was like we were tapping into one brain. I'm hoping that one day soon we'll do a 2 keyboard player gig at the Baked Potato.
May we hope that you are now a permanent member of the Lukather Band, Los Lobotomies, El Grupo....
Yes, thats my plan!
Normally your home is the jazzy, funky, fusion music. You also played latin. Now you play rock. Do you really prefer one kind of music?
Although as you mentioned my home is sort of jazz/funk/fusion, I don't really prefer any one thing. It seems that I became known for playing jazz/funk/fusion because I spent a long time working with those kind of musicians, and also made a couple of solo CDs in that kind of style. I see and hear a lot of good in a lot of different styles of music. I grew up listening and really liking many styles- rock, prog rock, latin, fusion, pop, country... you name it. For many of my youngest years, all I knew was classical music because that is what a started with. To this day I like to play, talk about, and listen to Scriabin, Ravel, and Debussey just to name a few.
Is it difficult to adapt to the different kinds of musicians and the different styles?
I really don't find it difficult to adapt because I've been lucky to work with a lot of great musicians in different styles. The most difficult situations for me to adapt in (assuming that this is a 'creative' situation with the artist hiring me) are those where there is a person(s) with a different vision or idea, and unwilling to listen to an opinion about what music could be. There have also been cases where the hiring person(s) just act disrespectful. You can't really 'win' in a situation like that. Thankfully, it has been a very long time since I've had an experience like that. Fortunately for me also, those experiences have been very few and far between.
First you´re on tour with Simon Phillips, then with Luke – how is life on tour?
Great! I really enjoy the opportunity to travel the world and play music. It was always my childhood dream to do this. When I first heard music that was 'ethnic' in my viewpoint, I always wanted to see where it came from. Now I get to do that, and I don't take that for granted!
Steve, you're married with Renee Jones, so it's hard for your wife living with a succesful husband like you. Have you got the chance to take her with you, when you're on tour? Or is she even on tour?
The hardest thing about being on tour is not being able to hang with Renee. She is my best friend, besides being my wife, and this makes it even tougher to be away from her. When I'm at home we do everything together. There are some opportunities when she comes out to visit me on tours. We have so many fond memories of visiting different places in the world together. I can vividly remember times we've spent together in London, Barcelona, Tokyo, Vienna, Aushaffenburg, the list goes on... Being a bass player herself, she fits right in with other musicians. This makes it a lot easier for her to hang on the tour busses and airplanes, etc...
I saw you the first time 2005 in Krefeld (Germany) at "Rudolph´s auf der Rennbahn" with "El Grupo". I found some Vids on You Tube showing you playing with "Nu Alliance" a lot of "club-gigs". Which gigs do you prefer – the little clubs or big halls?
There is a lot to be said for both. The thing that is the common denominator in both situations is the people who come to see the gig. I think thats the most important thing. It is fun to be able to talk personally to everyone in a small club, but its also a lot of fun to feel the vibe of a lot of people in a big stadium!
With Simon and Luke you already know two members of Toto - how likely is it going on tour with Toto? Did you ever speak about this possibility?
I don't think this will be a possibility. I enjoy hearing stories about Toto from Luke and Simon, and I really enjoy their music, but it seems unlikely that this would happen.
Steve, you're playing with the best musicians, Chaka Khan , John Pattituci, Dave Weckl, Victor Wooten, Tom Brechtlin,..... What's up with your own project "Nu Alliance" and what's up to support yourself with new albums, you're such a great and awesome musician? Or is a fact: The keyboarders are often standing in the second row?
Well, I've put my own music project 'on hold' for the near future because I'm going to be on the road with Luke. I do want to eventually pick up where I've left off musically with Renee. As I mentioned she plays bass and sings, and we've been working on a CD together in the studio. This is going to be a really cool CD when we finish it. It will be different from my first couple of CDs because we'll both be singing and writing some music that I believe will attract a broader scope of people. I'm looking forward to that!
What are your plans for the future?
I think for the time being, I'll just look forward to touring with the great musicians and friends I've made and working on the CD project with Renee.
What are your leisure activities – if you have time – I've read you're a Harley-fan?
Yes, I've always liked Harleys. One of my cousins in Dayton, Ohio always had one. I remember being hooked when I was really young and he gave me a ride around the neighborhood.
I've really taken up following NASCAR races and the drivers involved. I got introduced to NASCAR by my nephew in-law, Jeremy. Jeff Burton (driver of the #31 AT&T car) is my favorite driver. I have been studying and learning about the history of this sport. Whenever I can, I go to the races. I don't get too many opportunities to spend leisure time, but it fascinates me to learn new things about the technology, the drivers, and the different challenges, problems and driving styles required by all of the different race tracks. Earlier this year, I got an opportunity to drive a retired NASCAR (the #07 car) driven by Clint Bowyer. I did about 8 laps at the California Speedway (now called the "Auto Club Speedway") in Fontana, California. It was challenging and some of the most fun I've ever had! I'm planning to go back and do it again when I have a break in touring.
I've had many great discussions with Simon about racing. He's turned me on to some of the Euro styles (Formula 1, Formula Fords, etc...) that I hadn't really spent much time investigating until now. Funny thing though, he is about the only musician with whom I've had racing discussions. Usually, musicians that I speak with laugh when I tell them about my interest in NASCAR because of it's reputation of being an American 'country' sport. If you get a chance to go to a race in person as I did, you'll be hooked!
Thank you for taking some time!
Thanks to you as well. Always a pleasure hanging and talking about music!
All the best to you and your wife
Thank you, and our best wishes to you and yours as well!
Hopefully see you soon.
Kind regards,
Steve
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