Press Kit
Bio
It’s little wonder that Anne Weiss is described as “unique.” She studied classical piano, joined a street gang, became a mountaineer, developed a guitar obsession, worked as a political organizer, learned to salsa dance, and became addicted to delta blues; and yes, you will hear it all in her music.
Combining contemporary folk, blues, acoustic funk, gospel music, and smatterings of classical phrasing and Latin rhythms, Anne is known for her enormous bluesy voice, great guitar chops, and striking stage presence.
Anne’s first recording work was with Shawn Colvin and Patty Larkin. It wasn’t long before she was opening concerts for Richie Havens and Dar Williams. A decade later, Anne has performed with everyone from power folk singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco to country blues heroes Cephas & Wiggins. She has toured internationally and has appeared at folk, blues, world music festivals, and week-long music workshops.
For many of her fans, Anne’s lyrics are ultimately what set her aside. Poetic, political, humorous, sensual, full of characters and stories, Weiss came to lyrics through her poetic craft. She has received the Allen Ginsberg Award for poems in her recently published poetry book, Making Paper From Leaves (2002).
Anne performs with equal ease as a soloist, with her unusual 5 piece funky-folk “Feel This Band”, or in duo or trio style with supporting musicians. Audiences are drawn to Weiss’s engaging, warm, spontaneous performances, her obvious joie de vivre, and her love of walking out on new musical and cultural edges.
Reviews
Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream
Anne Weiss wears many hats. In addition to performing over 100 dates per year, the Portland, Ore.–based folk singer-songwriter is a choir director, political organizer, mountaineer, salsa dancer and award-winning poet who studied with, and worked for, Allen Ginsberg. Elements of all these diverse talents can be heard in her latest release, Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream.
The title track finds Weiss musing on seemingly disparate aspects of reality. “Special Delivery” incorporates a human beat box with an off-kilter look at the lighter side of passion. “Fall” incorporates B3 organ into a commentary on prejudices and social progress while the playful “Song About the Affair I Am Not Having” poignantly captures longing in lyrics like “Give me one star to wish upon, 100 summer nights / Or give me enough snow to cover this thing that is so bright.”
With a little help from fellow Northwestern indie musicians like David Jacobs-Strain and Keith Greeninger, Weiss has brought her lovely dream into a spectacular concrete reality.
—Mary Wakefield, Performing Songwriter Magazine
Blues Legend in the Making Anne Weiss at Ballard Jam House
Don’t miss this chance to check out a woman whose music shouts out her life lived on the front lines of making good change in all the ways that matter – including the right to sing about it all. Songs of a rich life – lived on the edge. Anne will be presenting songs from her new CD Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream, produced by rock great Kenny Passarelli, which showcases Anne’s wide-ranging musical talents. Anne’s music collaborators have included Dar Williams, Ani DiFranco, Richie Havens, Taj Mahal, Cheryl Wheeler, Dan Fogelberg, and Greg Brown. Her songs draw on the richness of her life – daughter of an opera singer, classical pianist turned blues guitarist, NY street gang member, mountaineer, social activist here and abroad, and writer/performer of songs that will stay with you forever. This is a don’t miss night as Anne will be accompanied by local favorite Sarah Allen Pella/Radio Antoinette (formerly http://www.supermodelumberjack.com). Only $7!
Available from CD Baby.
A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
by Mark S. Tucker
(progdawg@hotmail.com).
Man, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Kenny Passarelli’s name crop up. He’d been a founding member of (Joe Walsh’s) Barnstorm and later involved with Dan Fogelberg, Hall & Oates, and others, but has been, at least to the general public, pretty much dormant for a while, so, like the similar re-emergence of Terry Sylvester recently, catching his sobriquet as producer and bass player here was surprising. It also signified the probability that there’d be some informed music-making going on…and there is.
Anne Weiss is a ground-level singer somewhat in the vein of Maria Muldaur, Martha Velez, and others but a good deal gutsier, earthier, and more believable. She crafts her own songs well, then pulls in some great covers, including an unusually upbeat take on Robert Johnson’s Come On in My Kitchen. The session players, presumably gathered by Passarelli, provide excellent backing, and Weiss herself, in the liner notes, makes passing reference to the old A&M days, which Concrete World very staunchly revives. An indie figure since 1994, she’s supported such names as Taj Mahal, Richie Havens, Anne DiFranco, Dan Fogelberg, and others, which should give more than a little indication of her integrity in others’ eyes.
I’ve no idea what her three earlier releases sounded like, but this one received the royal treatment, and the singer shows herself to be every inch equal to the requirements for such fortune. Concrete Worl is summer music and, right now, that may be just the prescription to invite the listener to dive in, what with all the biting cold in much of the country. Once broached and its heat begins to seep throughout your wintertime burrow, the hip-swaying finger-snapping delta boogying that follows might be just about all you’ll need to keep spirits up and the blood thrumming. Start with the swingin’ take on Mississippi Fred McDowell’s Write Me a Few of Your Lines and find yourself irresistably caged into the whole disc.
Track List:
- I Ain’t Got no Reason to Lie to You (John Twist)
- The Song About the Affair That I am not Having
- Special Delivery
- Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream
- Come on in my Kitchen (Robert Johnson)
- What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)
- Write Me a Few of Your Lines (Fred McDowell)
- Liar’s Day
- Fall
- Sunday River
- Shadow of Doubt (Gary Nicholson)
- These Days (Jackson Browne)
All songs written by Anne Weiss except as noted.
Edited by: David N. Pyles
(dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)
Copyright 2009, Peterborough Folk Music Society.
This review may be reprinted with prior permission and attribution.
www.rambles.net
Anne Weiss – Concrete World And The Lover’s Dream
2008, Potter Street Records
I put this CD on the player with a heavy sense of duty, in the full, unhappy expectation that it would be yet another drearily self-absorbed, inner-gazing singer-songwriter effort. I quickly learned otherwise. Anne Weiss, who works out of Seattle, is a whole lot more like Bonnie Raitt than Joni Mitchell or any of her abundant, narcissistically sensitive progeny.
Like Raitt, Weiss counts r&b, rock, country blues and the folk revival among her defining influences. Unlike Raitt, Weiss has not had to face the commercial pressures to sanitize her sound, and thus Concrete World & The Lover’s Dream will hold your — or anyway holds my — attention more than any Raitt disc I’ve heard in a while. For one thing, while this is definitely a band record, acoustic, not electric, guitar is the foundational instrument. The result is a surprisingly original, captivating approach that will grab you at the first cut, John Twist’s “I Ain’t Got No Reason to Lie to You,” a knockout.
At least to the extent that my imperfect memory informs me, Weiss’s musical vision is not quite like anybody else’s. Her pipes are deep ones, but she employs them intelligently, resisting perhaps understandable temptations to turn them to various forms of excess. There is not a note oversung here; there is, on the other hand, plenty of restraint, nuance and vocal artistry.
Though a gifted songwriter, Weiss is not so focused on her own compositions that she neglects other people’s work, which she exhumes tastefully. Few artists have the imagination, knowledge or guts to put songs by Mississippi Fred McDowell, Marvin Gaye and Jackson Browne on a single disc. Her cover of Browne’s “These Days” — which I will always associate with the 1970 Tom Rush version — is done in a fashion so inventive that on first hearing I almost didn’t recognize it. “Write Me a Few of Your Lines” is an impressive extrapolation from the classic McDowell original, likewise “Come on in My Kitchen” from Robert Johnson’s.
Also in common with Raitt, Weiss has a keen social conscience, and her music addresses social ills like war and poverty, albeit too adroitly to come across as mere sermonizing. Even the protest material, in other words, works first as music and as finely crafted lyric. Not just the same old same old, Concrete World thrills with unexpected delights.
www.minor7th.com
Anne Weiss – Concrete World And The Lover’s Dream
2008, Potter Street Records
I know Anne as a songwriter with sharp instincts and songs that’ll blow your hair back. I had no idea she was such a gifted blues singer too. That little rasp in her voice is perfect for classics like Robert Johnson’s “Come on in My Kitchen” as well as her own songs like the title cut. Her band doesn’t sound like a bunch of side players thrown together, but like a group who hangs out in their spare time, sharing tunes and swapping stories. There’s a great mix of covers and Anne’s originals. She does nothing half way, from the bitterness in “Liar’s Day” — about the futility of war, particularly this one we’re in — to the lustful tone of “Special Delivery,” delivered with beat box, a slappin’ acoustic guitar, funky horns and a gospel choir. Amen and pass the chocolate. It takes ovaries to tackle Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” but she does it well, giving us enough of that great melody but making it her own with an earthy percussive arrangement. “Fall” is a wonderful anthem about keeping what’s good in this world and willing the rest to fall. She’s a talented lyricist, painting with vivid colors and texture. In “The Song About the Affair I’m Not Having” she sings, “This house of winter / Has no right to call your name / Thirty below wind chills the bone / And I’m bursting into flame.” “Sunday River” is a spiritual piece with a gospel flavor. There’s more classic blues in Mississippi Fred McDowell’s ” Write Me a Few of Your Lines.” Wrapping up the release is one of my favorite Jackson Browne tunes, “These Days.” She slows it down, making the words mean even more. Her expressive voice is accompanied by some damn fine acoustic guitar from David Jacob-Strains.
© Jamie Anderson
Click here: Wildy’s World: Review: Anne Weiss – Concrete World And The Lover’s Dream
February 4, 2009
Anne Weiss – Concrete World And The Lover’s Dream
2008, Potter Street Records
Anne Weiss is the consummate professional. From recording with such luminaries as Shawn Colvin and Patty Larkin to performing with the likes of Ani DiFranco and Cephas & Wiggins, Weiss is a performer that other musicians look to with respect. She’s also an Allen Ginsburg Award winning poet, a former street gang member and political organizer. Weiss’ fourth CD, Concrete World And The Lover’s Dream is a collection of pop, country, blues and rock and roll that will surprise and delight listeners with Weiss’ ability to change character and presentation without losing the essential sense of her self. Let’s check it out!
Weiss opens with Ain’t Got No Reason To Lie in a deceptively bluegrass tinged rendition that is amazingly straight forward when compared to what comes later. It’s a refreshingly uncomplicated take on the song that is startlingly apropos. The Song About The Affair That I Am Not Having finds Weiss moving a little more in the Soul sound she is comfortable with, but still staying with a somewhat light, pop sound. It’s as if with the first two songs Weiss is leaving herself open to multiple genres (Country, Americana, Pop) whereas she later moves more solidly into a Soul/R&B sound. Special Delivery is built around a beat box core that ties everything else together. This is one of the more intriguing songs on the album as we get to see the real shading of Weiss’ voice here for the first time.
Anne Weiss drops any and all pretenses on Concrete World And The Lover’s Dream, bringing out every ounce of soul she possesses in a performance not to be missed. It just keeps coming on Robert Johnson’s Come On In My Kitchen, The Blues/Soul sound here is as thick as cream cheese. Weiss reminds me distinctly of one of my favorite female blues vocalists, Pamela Betti. There’s a Janis Joplin vibe here as well as Weiss opens up the throttle on a voice that has transformed from a vaguely sweet pop voice to a husky and worldly blues/rock sound in the course of five songs. Write Me A Few Of Your Lines is the highlight of the album. The classic tune from Mississippi Fred McDowell sounds like it was written for Weiss, and she does it full justice. Other highlights include Fall, Shadow Of Doubt and the cover of Jackson Browne’s These Days.
Anne Weiss fits equally well into the Country, Blues and Rock genres that she dances across on Concrete World And The Lover’s Dream. Her voice is a diamond in the rough. Not smooth or pretty, but hewn by life and effort and full of a natural beauty that can’t be crafted. Weiss owns the songs she sings and wears them like a favorite dress. The real Weiss is millimeters from the surface in each song, striving to break through and touch the listener like a breeze. Concrete World And The Lover’s Dream is a fine album.
Scope Entertainment
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Click here: 2009 January | Skope Entertainment Inc
Written by Skope Staff · Filed Under REVIEWS
Anne Weiss, Concrete World and The Lover’s Dream
January 23, 2009
Old-time blues, acoustic folk/funk, gospel, lite rock, soul-binding, southern-sounding, easy-listening, jazzy sensations and even a hip-hop element are all the styles of music associated with Anne Weiss and her latest work, Concrete World and The Lover’s Dream. Quite an array of arrangements on this record and that is what makes Weiss such a special/unique artist. Combine all of this together and you have yourself a full plate of THIS and THAT with plenty of SECONDS left over. So, I advise everyone to just eat this record up!
I can’t look past the fact at how poetic the album is. Weiss’ words are extremely potent and she sings each line with such conviction. The power and soul behind her voice reminds me of a Janis Joplin while her folky, poem-style verses resemble the likes of Dylan, Simon—both Carly and Paul, James Taylor and Joan Baez just to name a few.
Track three, “Special Delivery”, surprised me the most when a beat boxing effect was included within the song. When I think beat boxing, I think Doug E Fresh or Biz Markie; real hip-hop, beat-boxin’ cats. So, the fact that Weiss could blend this style of music into her own work and pull it off nicely is just an amazing aspect!
Concrete World and The Lover’s Dream has no limitations as far as music boundaries go. Weiss proves that it’s all just MUSIC. Music that can be listened to by ANYONE and EVERYBODY is what Anne Weiss brings to the table here.
There are terrific renditions such as: Robert Johnson’s “Come On In My Kitchen”, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and Jackson Browne’s “These Days”. Weiss brings you back to the great sound of the Delta by paying tribute to blues legend, Robert Johnson. The classic, Delta Blues sound is prominent and the harmonica playing adds that extra element of a real blues sensation on “Come On In My Kitchen”. On Marvin Gaye’s classic, Weiss goes in a different direction by making the hit song more folk-like, but packed full with plenty of soul still. And finally on “These Days”, Weiss sings the song in such a sweet, soft and somber manner that would even make Jackson Browne proud.
To end, I wanted to include certain lyrics from Weiss herself on “Sunday River”: “I am just the country, I am just the land. I had no intention like what they have planned. I would live in peace, my soil is for good. I am so misunderstand”. This is Weiss putting her poetic skills to the test and inviting listeners to really contemplate on this thought. Ponder on that now, if you like.
For more on Anne Weiss and Concrete World and The Lover’s Dream, SKOPE out www.anneweiss.com or www.myspace.com/anneweissmusic.com.
By Jimmy Rae
Posted by James on January 14th, 2009 No Comments
“I Ain’t Got No Reason To Lie To You” is a track that showcases Weiss’ strength, putting her in a perfect position between a Sarah McLachlan and a Natalie Cole. The track, easily single quality, gets listeners interested in what is to come on “Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream”, the latest effort by Weiss. “I Ain’t Got No Reason” also feeds well into “The Song About The Affair That I Am Not Having”. “The Song” is vital to “Concrete World” because it puts the guitar track as a focal point of the track, rivaling the vocals for dominance. The bickering back and forth between the instrumental and vocal sides of Weiss’ works forces each element to step up its game to the point that what results on the album is the best possible music.
Each of the album’s 12 tracks could easily be on rotation on alternative rock stations, and unlike many other efforts in the same genre, the album gets stronger as it plays on. This is perfectly shown during “Concrete World”’s penultimate track, “Shadow of Doubt”. This is due to the fact that “Shadow of Doubt” is a track that will speak equally well to those just getting into alternative music as to those that have been listening in for decades; the composition created here by Weiss is just that impressive, linking together instrumental with vocal and atmospherical into something that is decidedly greater than the sum of its constituent parts.
The disc ends with “These Days”, a song that is stellar both in its role as a disc closer as well as a transition to parts unknown, possibly giving listeners clues to what path Weiss will ultimately take in regards to the follow up to “Concrete World”. Without a flaw, without a weak patch, what Anne Weiss does here during “Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream” is show to the world her vibrant soul and inimitable talent. Make it a point to pick up this and her earlier recordings, as well as make a sojourn to whatever venue that she may be playing in the months or years to come. Kudos, Weiss, for making a jaded reviewer smile.
Top Tracks: What’s Going On, Come On In My Kitchen
Rating: 8.5/10
Alison Gillespie, Eugene, OR
HI Anne,
Just want you to know that I found you quite by accident. I was with a friend and I saw the cover of the album, having no idea who you were. Went home , played it, played it again, and again. Still playing it 2 and 1/2 months later and bought 9 of them to give to my friends. Probably will buy more. Thank you , I love it , can’t wait for you to come to Eugene. Oh by the way one review wrote that you did a \”nice cover of \”What\’s going on?\” Not only nice but truely awesome , wonderful, and just the best . I play it to get inspired to be inspired ! Helps get me going on my ski machine. So thank you thank you. love you Anne.
Bi-College News October 29, 2008
Returning from a tour around Ireland in the afternoon and performing in Lunt Basement at night is, to say the least, a busy day. Anne Weiss did just this the Thursday before break, which affirmed her position as a performing veteran. Weiss’s style is approachable and emotionally raw, allowing the audience a glimpse into her soul.
Weiss came to Haverford after an invitation from her relative, Chris Healy ‘09. He even performed with her for a few of the songs. The two shared good stage chemistry, and Healy’s improvised violin and vocal parts complemented Weiss.
Weiss opened with a song about being late for a show and stranded at this gas station. The song included images of a Honduran truck driver laughing at her and a woman making her an unwanted arugula sandwich. With this song, we were introduced to her styles: talky vocals with soaring falsetto accompanied by her guitar, which she also used percussively. Her voice was at times reminiscent of Melissa Ethridge when she tried to surpass her comfortable register. Her scratchy, cool voice complemented the funny song very well.
“Shadow of Doubt” was a bluesy tune that she prefaced with the fact that when listening to the blues, at least you know that someone out there was feeling as bad as you. Healy’s improvised violin for this song was surely impressive.
Weiss played a fun song about Juanita, a 200-lb., over-alled 55-year-old woman she came across in a dance club. It included lyrics emphasizing everyone’s attraction to her despite her unconventionally beautiful appearance and her fashion choices, some of which became sing-alongs: “oooo-ooooover-allllls.” Another song was about the affair she wanted to but did not have entitled “The Song About the Affair that I am Not Having,” in which her voice reminded me of the lead singer of Heart.
My favorite as “Sorels,” named for the hefty, furry boots fit for the Arctic. This humorous ode to the boots that saved her from losing a limb to frostbite was evocative of a Kimya Dawson song, but without the underlying sadness.
Weiss performed “A Day of Celebration” with the S-Chords. My impression of Weiss included the notion that college a cappella was the polar opposite of “her thing,” but she was up for something new. Rob Harbison ‘10 started singing “MMMBop” for a moment, but then got serious. His vocal percussion kept the at times cacophonous song together. Not only did the S-Chords help Weiss out, she encouraged the audience to sing along. And to my surprise, most everyone there sang along. In fact, it was the first time in a while where I didn’t feel like an idiot during audience participation, which I suppose is a testament to Weiss’s sincerity.
At times, Weiss reminded me of Norwegian pop singer Maria Mena, in the best possible way. Remember her song “You Are the Only One”? No? Whatever. Watch the awful music video if you care. Or you can just listen to Anne Weiss and enjoy an experienced, learned, excellent artist.
This article is © 2008 The Bi-College News. The material on this page is free for personal or educational use, but may not be reproduced, reprinted, republished, redistributed, or otherwise transmitted to a third party without the express written permission of The Bi-College News, 370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041.
-Genna Cherichello, Bi-College News October 29, 2008
RadioIndy is pleased to present Anne Weiss with a GrIndie Award for their CD “Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream”
“Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream” by Anne Weiss is a funk/blues solo female album with a poetic flair. Anne’s voice is one of the more well known in Oregon and for good reason. She sings with her heart and soul. She possesses that great blues quality of grit and grace, and her lyrics are great life stories. Big name artists such as Janis Joplin and Tracy Chapman come to mind when listening to Anne’s outstanding music. Anne’s musical background is quite diverse and she brings that influence to the arrangements. Hints of urban and latin music are sprinkled throughout the CD, as well as a few other surprises. The band ties the sound together nicely, and are superior musicians. Highlights include “Special Delivery” with its assortment of sounds. You get great vocals, blues, street beats and Motown horns on this track. The title track “Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream” makes “Blackbird” pop into your head in the beginning and then evolves into a dirge with a powerful message. Anne also does a real nice cover of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” on this CD. If you enjoy listening to outstanding songwriting and outstanding bluesy-rock female vocalists, give this CD a try.
-RadioIndy.com
Barbara Mitchell, Portland Tribune April 25, 2008
“Grass-roots sensation Anne Weiss’ gutsy, passionate voice is spot-on whether she’s crooning folk material, putting a unique spin on Marvin Gaye’s "What’s Going On” and Robert Johnson’s “Come On in My Kitchen” or delivering her own, blues soaked originals.”
Mike Meyer, “Mississippi West” KMHD-fm Portland, OR
“Anne Weiss’ new project is an acoustic music example of the best of both worlds. Her ‘Concrete World’ is solid, accomplished musicianship and excellent songwriting. Meanwhile her ‘Lover’s Dream’ is the artistry and creativity of someone with essential vitality that comes out in bursts of rich musical colors.”
Robyn Shanti, the Dharma Wheel, KBOO Radio, Portland Oregon
“Concrete World and the Lover’s Dream is the new tour de force CD from the Northwest’s Anne Weiss. Impeccably produced and supported by an amazing cast of musicians, the diverse arrangements and choices of songs on this CD allows the many facets of this jewel to fully shine. Whether Anne is belting out a delta blues tune or singing an achingly tender ballad, every moment of this CD is filled with passion and conviction and reminds us all that if we can’t dance…we don’t want to be part of any revolution”.
Micah Soloman, President, Oasis Disk Manufacturing
“Hey Anne! Your CD is FABULOUS! WOW! First I noticed how amazing it looks. Then I got to listen to it. Just incredible.”
Rachel Baldwin, vocalist
“! love your new CD. Wow! You are like Tracy Chapman, Eva Cassidy, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin all rolled into one.You are my American Idol.”
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Heard you today on XM. Between you and Aretha I was turned to putty.
- Alan, Brooklyn, NY
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Anne Weiss is one of those rare artists that has it all: powerful emotionally stunning vocals, fantastic guitar work that is tastefully executed, and songwriter extrordinaire.
Few artists end up with this much talent in so many areas. A masterpiece!
- Smitty Beckstein, KSER Radio, Everett, WA
Friday October 15, 2004
One of the only performers who excels at every style of music out there, with incredibly well written lyrical craft, super cool guitar chops and a voice that stops you dead in your tracks, she belts out mind boggling blues, out of body experience gospel, superb singer/songwriter craft that pulls every emotion imaginable out of the innermost recesses of your mind, extraordinary political insight and social commentary, Anne is in a league all by herself. An absolutely extraordinary experience to hear Anne’s music.
-Fan Review, Folkweb.com
Friday June 6, 2003
If you haven’t seen Anne Weiss perform, you’ve been missing out on one of the most transcendent musical experiences in the Northwest. Rarely is an artist able to combine such intelligent, impassioned songwriting with vocal abilities of such stunning beauty and staggering skill. Her words will capture your mind, her voice will steal your heart, and her music will move you to very depths of your soul.
- Kristin Valinsky, Portland Oregon concert promoter/publicist
Phil Shapiro, Bound For Glory Live Performance Radio
“Anne is contemporary, Anne is political, Anne is one of the liveliest performers ever to grace the Bound for Glory stage.”
Ray Pieters “Somewhere Between”, Belgium Radio
“A little genius!! A great talent!!”
April, 2006
I loved your songs, your voice, your presence. The crowd loved you and I hope you got some new fans. For sure, I’m one now!
- Walkin’ Jim Stoltz
Willamette Week
“Her vocal flights suggest a baby raised by Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell”
- Jeff Rosenberg, Willamette Week
Neil Cleary, Good Citizen
“Her risk-taking [on-stage]… creates moments no strictly solo performer could ever touch.”
Sing Out
“You know right from the start that Weiss will fly out of any pigeonholes. This woman is versatile!”
- Rich Warren, Sing Out Magazine
Burlington Coffeehouse
“A must-see performer… an exceptional writer with a stunning voice!”
- Jeff Miller, Burlington Coffeehouse, VT
Pat York, fan after hearing Anne Weiss on the national radio program, River City Folk
“Hey, woman – you rank right up there for me with Bonnie Raitt, Ella Fitzgerald, and several other female musicians that have served to inspire me throughout my life.”
KRVM Radio
“Anne’s distinctive voice, guitar playing, songwriting, humor and overall stage presence far surpasses much of the ‘major label’ talent.”
- Mike Meyer, KRVM Radio, Eugene, OR
KBOO Radio
“Pure poetry, pure voice, bluesfunksoulfolk guitar goddess.”
- Jeff Rosenberg, KBOO radio, Willamette Week, Portland, OR
Oasis
“Anne Weiss is a human dynamo. There is nobody I would rather hear, whether live or on CD. She is a tiny bundle of energy, incredible vocal ability, and great songwriting. From authentic gospel to the most plaintive acoustic music to the most timely topical songs, she truly rocks.”
- Micah Solomon, President, Oasis Duplication
NPR
“Quite the wordsmith.”
- Quincey Johnson, National Public Radio
VT Free Press
“A stunning voice.”
- Paul Kaza, Burlington (Vermont) Free Press
Dar Williams
“Anne’s been an inspiration to me ever since we met. She’s funny, she’s insightful, and the power of her performances brings people together in the best way.”
- Dar Williams, singer/songwriter
NE Performer
“Great stuff.”
- Gus Ziesing, New England Performer Magazine
Sunday April 27, 2003
Aside from Janis Joplin, I can think of no other female vocalist who emits anything close to the power, grace, beauty, sorrow, strength, artistry and passion of Anne Weiss. Music is so subjective that I shy away from proclaiming any musician “the best” at their craft – but there is no singer living today who has impressed me more deeply than Anne Weiss. Her performances are nothing short of stunning, and I have seen the enormity of Anne’s talent and expression move audience members to tears on several occasions.
- Kristin Valinsky, Portland Oregon concert promoter/publicist.
Jaime Morton, singer/songwriter
“Hearing Anne Weiss sing is like listening to a gospel choir rolled into one Voice. honest, soulful, and deeply moving…’
KZSC Radio
“Her voice is rich and powerful, with the ability to really belt it out, and yet it can be quiet, soft and clear, too. A lot of passion and soul…her songwriting is what excites me the most, though. The way she can say so much with such beautiful simplicity is what makes these songs really stand out.”
- Jeff Emery, KZSC Radio, Santa Cruz, California
Mixx Magazine
“One of the freshest, most versatile voices I’ve heard…she ranges from folk to pop to swing to blues, all with a self-assured ease.”
- Steve Bornstein (Top 10 picks 1997), Mixx Magazine
KBOO Radio
“Powerfully crafted songs…Whether moving our hearts or making us move our feet, she delivers a unique experience that compels us to return again and again for another listen.”
- Robyn Shanti, KBOO Radio, Portland Oregon
KUNV Radio
“Crossing the Border is one wonderful, rich, and incisive piece of work!- BEAUtifully performed!”
- Gerrie Blake, KUNV Radio, Las Vegas, Nev
Braille
“Anne Weiss has brought heart and soul back into folk music. Her new release, “Braille”, is a great accomplishment.”
-Mike Meyer, KRVM, Eugene, OR
Eric von Beck
“From the first cut to the last I can’t get enough. The desert island cd if I had only one.”
- Eric von Beck, reviewer
Dar Williams
“Anne Weiss has created an album so lush and beautifully produced…unforgettable melodies, georgeous lyrics. Braille is pure Anne Weiss- all about life, life, life.”
-Dar Williams
Kasey Jueds
“Braille is just amazing. So unusual, to love every song on a CD, but I do; this music is so perfectly alive.”
-Kasey Jueds, Poet
Willamette Week
“On her third independent release, Braille, Weiss stirs her bountiful talents and eclectic musical passions into a sumptuous musical stew. It’s a meal rich with
emotional and sensual nourishment from fiery acoustic blues guitar, words flirty with the freedom and depth of the best poetry, and a vibrant voice, traversing easily from whispered intimacy to joyous gospel holler.”
-Jeff Rosenberg, Willamette Week, Portland Oregon.
KBOO Radio
“Braille, (Anne’s new release), is her strongest collection of songcraft yet. She is in full command of all of her talents: poetic lyrics, tender melodies, tough guitar work, and magnificent voice. Every style of music she touches on here — folk, blues, gospel, even salsa-soul — she makes effortlessly her own. What beautiful work!”
- Jeff Rosenberg, co-host, The Dharma Wheel, KBOO Community Radio, Portland, Oregon 11/7/02
Crossing the Border
“The album flows with excellent writing, sung with a voice reminiscent of Janis Ian spiced with the fire of Bonnie Raitt.”
- Nicki De, Victory Music Review
KZSC Radio
“One of the finest new albums I’ve heard in a long time.”
- Jeff Emery, “Folk Backroads” KZSC Radio
Eugene Oregon
“Anne’s distinctive voice, guitar playing, songwriting, humor and overall stage presence far surpasses much of the ‘major label’ talent of the 90’s. Her new album, Crossing the Border, is a brilliant CD. I love the variety, arrangement, writing, singing, backup, and production. It just could not be better!”
- Mike Myer, Concert Producer, KRVM Radio, Eugene Oregon
Unknown Reviewer
With a powerful blend of vocal, instrumental and lyrical styles from new folk to blues and gospel, Crossing The Border pushes the boundries of personal, political and cultural assumptions. This album demonstrates Anne’s impressive range of vocal emotion and unique, poetic, and diverse songwriting ability.
- Unknown
WNEC Radio
Crossing the Border was one of those pleasant surprises. I had never heard Anne before, but this is becoming one my favorite recordings of late. For those who have not yet heard Anne Weiss, imagine a vocal style smack in- between Dar Williams and Shawn Colvin. In fact, upon closer inspection, you will notice Dar’s presence providing harmony to “House Where Everybody’s Home”. Her lyrics are deep, and sometimes dark. Sometimes she serves them up with great range, and power — other times gently, with beauty. Whichever way she chooses to take a song, her mastery is evident. She seems equally at home belting them out or gently pulling them along.
One of the simpler songs on the recording is also the most personal. “Dad’s Pocket,” which is dedicated to her father, is a beautiful reminiscence — “I crawled into the pocket of your flannel shirt still hanging on the wall. It’s still got tractor grease on it — I come here when I’m feeling small”.
The title cut, Crossing The Border, is the other side of Anne. It begins with a thumping beat, reminiscent of Hendrix’ “Foxy Lady,” giving way to vocals which sound like Ani DiFranco in a tin can. With lots of slide guitar and driving bass,Weiss sings of the racism, however slight within our selves. — “In America, riding on the bus, a girl from Nagasaki suddenly turns and smiles at us. If love sees no color, if justice is blind, if there’s a fence in your conscience — maybe you better jump your mind.” — All of Anne’s lyrics hold this kind of power. There are many incredible aural moments to enjoy as well, such as her addition of a full gospel choir on “Mountain,” as well as the bonus track “He Will Answer Prayer,” a live cut from Gospel Fest 94 recorded at the Flynn Theatre in Burlington, Vermont.
Anne Weiss also explores blues territory on another live track called “Looks Like Satin, Acts Like Steel,” incorporating horns and her incredible range to the mix. She doesn’t stop there, but delivers a beautiful version of “Mi Luna,” sung sweetly in Spanish. It keeps growing on me. I wanted to write this three months ago, but new windows into it continue to open for me. The CD is dedicated to Ngawang Choephel who is serving 18 years as a political prisoner in Chinese occupied Tibet for making a film of traditional music and dance. Don’t pass this one up.
- Jonathan Colcord,WNEC FM, Henniker, New Hampshire
Crossroads Magazine
The Song Swap-and-Music For The Mountain
24 Bridge St, Henniker, New Hampshire 03242
Crossroads Magazine “Bluegrass Breakdown” and Editorial Team
Making Paper From Leaves
“In the presence of a true voice, you find someone understands how it has been for you. She has helped your story by telling her own. That’s how it is in this book. This is a concert of road stories from Anne’s life that will summon a concert from your soul.
You travel with her- her grandmother suddenly your own, her holy stranger your own lucky friend, her anger and compassion your own made visible, audible, memorable. Now you are at the beginning, that place where all wrongs are ‘transposed to innocence’ and the world is about to happen from scratch.”
- Kim Stafford