‘Sweet Spot’, the debut solo project from Danny Weis, is a serious collection of grown up contemporary music for listeners of many persuasions. This San Diego raised guitarist who started out his musical life as a founder member of the 60’s rock band Iron Butterfly and played with super group Rhinoceros now makes his home in Ontario Canada but his strong sense of melody, bluesy lines and his distinctive funky rhythmic style were formed when he was taught guitar by his father, country jazz guitarist Johnny Weis. He was also influenced by the regular visits that legendary jazz guitarist Barney Kessel made to the family home and he brings all this and more to ‘Sweet Spot’. Certainly Danny’s rock heritage surfaces from time to time as does his flair for blues but surprisingly he also demonstrates a light melodic touch and an ear for a quality smooth jazz vibe.
The entire album has a deliciously retro feel that is assisted in no small measure by Michael Fonfara’s expansive use of Hammond B3. Nowhere is this more apparent than on ‘Turn It Up’ where Weis capitalizes on the big (sounding) horn section of Vern Dorge, Pol Coussee and Jason Logue to get a real Tower Of Power thing going. This same full sound is also to the fore with ‘Gunslinger’. Here the horns frame Danny’s own brand of blues tinged rock to make this a genuine night crawler while biggest of all is the bluesy swinger ‘Graham Street Shuffle’ that, despite awesome backing, Weis makes all his own. The smoky club style number ‘Angels Flight’ features sweet alto sax from Dorge and a handsome blues infused guitar solo from Weis but he shows his rock roots with the mid tempo back in the day ‘Inglewood’ on which Fonfara is off the chain and then some.
Talking of back in the day there was a time that every album and every live gig included a big memorable play out number. On ‘Sweet Spot’ Danny Weis resurrects this phenomenon and transitions from groovy guitar and Hammond B3 interplay to a surprise injection of vocals from Byram Joseph, Latoya and Miranda who sing out the collection, with the simple message of ‘Keep The Faith’, in fervent and soulful style.
Although listed as having sixteen tracks, ‘Sweet Spot’ actually only has twelve plus four short interludes. Each of these fillers show off a different side of Danny’s musical influences and with the Brooks Bowman composition ‘East Of The Sun’ he is at his melodic and beautiful best. This gentle side of Danny Weis also emerges with the simple and timeless rendition of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ and he keeps it mellow but adds funk for ‘Dinner At Nine’ on which Lou Pomanti plays excellent electric piano. Pomanti also gets the chance to contribute on ‘Its About Time’. It is of the albums better tracks with Weis playing feel good smooth jazz guitar from the outset.
In fact Danny Weis proves he has the knack of producing smooth jazz with an edge. The laid back and bluesy intro to ‘Cats Meow’ merges into melodic smooth jazz but is prevented from becoming bland by periodic bursts of blues guitar while on the title cut the solid combination of Hammond B3 and alto sax compliment the smooth jazz guitar of Weis. It has a nice rhythm and catchy hook but perhaps the albums stand out track is ‘What Would It Take’. Arguably this should already have been lifted for radio play but the fact its 6 minutes long means that is unlikely to happen. Nevertheless it’s a real winner with Weis starting out in acoustic mode before gradually folding in the elements of electric guitar, Hammond B3 and finally alto sax to produce the perfect smooth jazz mix.
‘Sweet Spot’ offers a range and versatility for which an audience is certainly waiting. More information on Danny Weis can be found at www.marshmellowrecords.com