Jimmy Weinstein

Jimmy Weinstein stands out as a restless, highly unpredictable drummer steeped in post-bop and avant-garde traditions, moving without hesitation from airy, lilting post-bop melodies to abrasive “outside” improvisation. His pieces sometimes veer far from the mainstream while others favor melodic warmth and easy accessibility. Although born in Chicago, he spent his formative years in Southern California and Mallorca, Spain. After childhood piano lessons he switched to drums at age twelve, first playing in rock bands before gradually orienting himself toward jazz. In 1986 he relocated to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music and took private lessons with drummer Alan Dawson. Weinstein decided to remain in Boston permanently and later studied with Max Roach at the University of Massachusetts. In the early 1990s he formed a Boston-based quartet that featured tenor saxman Don Houge, guitarist Elie Massias and bassist Masa Kamaguchi; Chris Cheek replaced Houge in 1994. His albums as a leader are 1994’s Nostalgia on Accurate and 1998’s Sound Emotion on Gunther Schuller’s GM label.