Klaus Weiss

Selected Sound recording artist producing primarily library music. Formed Niagara in 1971. Born on February 17, 1942 in Gevelsberg, during the late ‘50s and’60s, Klaus Weiss was one of the few experienced jazz drummers admired by his American counterparts. Sepp Werkmeister, Klaus Weiss’s long-time companion, remembers Klaus “being the only European drummer with American Feeling". making him much sought after for session work by his American colleagues. In addition, his experience, competence and his inimitable playing brought him, not only to lead a number of big band projects, but also to perform with the likes of Cecil Bridgewater, Johnny Griffin and Herbie Mann on stage. But Weiss was not a purist. Although he did have a defined style, he also explored many other genres, including new world and rock. Or, as Sepp Werkmeister puts it: "For Klaus, a drummer always has a key position musically. Perhaps more than any other musician, he understood a percussionist’s musical responsibility, whether drumming in a big band or in a trio. Although a jazz musician at heart, Klaus also worked very extensively with world music. Rock was not really his thing, but when Miles Davis recorded this kind of music himself, he was encouraged by Miles to foray his way into Rock as well.” Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.