Tribute to a jazz legend
FOR world-renowned jazz violinist Daniel Weltlinger, music is all about family and friends.
The 33-year-old Moriah College graduate picked up the violin at the age of five, after being inspired by his Hungarian-born grandfather.
“When I was a child I insisted on playing the violin because of my grandfather,” he recalled last week. “With music I really draw a lot from my family background. My grandfather is in my thoughts all the time when I’m playing music.”
Weltlinger’s love of his instrument has led him to play around the world with leading musicians, including Lulo Reinhardt, Israeli singer-songwriter Miki Gavrielov, gypsy singer Nadya Golski and local ensemble Monsieur Camembert.
“They are all good friends and I get a lot of satisfaction playing with them,” he said.
“Working with the same people you learn a lot, and it’s very enjoyable. And it’s a very positive thing.”
After many years of collaborating and learning, Weltlinger is stepping out into the limelight with his first solo album titled Souvenirs, a tribute to jazz legend Django Reinhardt.
“I love the music of Django Reinhardt. He was a great composer, a great innovator and a great thinker. He was well ahead of his time,” Weltlinger said.
“And I thought if I’m going to make a tribute album to Django Reinhardt, I think the proper thing to do, since a lot of people focus on his guitar-playing style, is to make an album that’s a tribute to him as a composer.”
Weltlinger said recording his first album under his own name didn’t lead to any added pressure.
“I feel that the past 10 years I’ve been using as practice time to work with different bands and to hone my skills and ideas,” he said.
“This is just really a first foray under my name so there were no nerves and no pressure for me whatsoever.”
Other musical collaborations that Weltlinger is working on are with “Diaspora jazz” quartet Zohar’s Nigun and hip-hop collective The Asthmatix.
“A lot of music I’m starting to make is influenced by my Jewish background, my travels and philosophical ideas,” he said.
But for now, the focus is on the Souvenirs album which will be launched at a special event at The Basement in Circular Quay, Sydney, on September 8, followed by another launch in Melbourne on September 10.
The Sydney launch of Daniel Weltlinger’s new album, Souvenirs, will be held at The Basement, 29 Reiby Place, Circular Quay on Thursday, September 8 at 9pm. Bookings: (02) 9251 2797.
The Melbourne launch will be held at at The Paris Cat Jazz Club, 6 Goldie Place, Melbourne on Saturday, September 10 at 7pm. Enquiries: (03) 9642 4711.
Weltlinger will also perform at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station Street, Box Hill on Friday, September 9 at 8pm. Bookings: (03) 9417 1983.
REPORT: Gareth Narunsky
PHOTO: Jazz musician Daniel Weltlinger.
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