Crossing The Border by Anne Weiss

"Portland powerhouse Anne Weiss, with her vocal flights suggesting

a cross between Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell, bluesy acoustic chops

hinting that Bonnie Raitt could have been a frequent visitor to the house,

& poetic lyrics that likewise transcend generic limitations,

is like three singer-songwriters in one."

-Jeff Rosenberg, Willamette Week, Portland, Oregon

Anne Weiss is a singer-songwriter whose vocal, guitar and piano styles incorporate contemporary folk, blues and gospel. Her first CD, Tomorrow's Gate, was praised as "one of the finest new albums" (Jeff Emery, KZSC Radio). Her second release, Crossing the Border, has been called "brilliant." (Mike Myer, KRVM Radio). Anne's poetry book, Making Paper From Leaves (2002) has been receiving national acclaim and her third album, Braille, was just released in February 2002 and is receiveing rave reviews.

Anne has shared stages with Dar Williams, Ani DiFranco, Dan Fogelberg, Richie Havens, Greg Brown, Catie Curtis, Patti Larkin, Cheryl Wheeler, Guy Davis, Ellis Paul, Jonatha Brooke, John Cephas and Phil Wiggins, Sapphire, Sonia, Pierce Pettis, Guardabarranco, and many others. She appears on recordings with Shawn Colvin, Geoff Bartley, Jim Infantino, Patti Larkin, and is featured on several music compilations. Anne also arranges music for and directs a capella choirs nationally, using multicultural music. On tour and at festivals, she offers singing, songwriting, and guitar workshops.

"Quite the wordsmith". -Quincey Johnson, National Public Radio

"A stunning voice". -Paul Kaza, Burlington Free Press, Burlington, VT.

"Anne's been an inspiration to me ever since we met. She's funny, she's insightful, and the power of her performances bring people together in the best way".

-Dar Williams, singer/songwriter

"Anne Weiss is a human dynamo. There is nobody I would rather hear, whether live or on CD. She is a 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

"Anne's distinctive voice, guitar playing, songwriting, humor and overall stage presence far surpasses much of the 'major label' talent. -Mike Myer, KRVM Radio, Eugene, OR.

"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."

-Pat York, fan, after hearing Anne Weiss on the national radio program, River City Folk

"Anne is contemporary, Anne is political, Anne is one of the liveliest performers ever

to grace the Bound for Glory stage."

-Phil Shapiro, Bound For Glory Radio, Ithaca, New York

www.anneweiss.com 1-800-611-4698 www.mp3.com/anneweiss

Quotes and Reveiws

"A little genius!! A great talent!!:

-Ray Pieters "Somewhere Between", Belgium Radio

Anne Weiss: pure poetry, pure voice, bluesfunksoulfolk guitar goddess.

Jeff Rosenberg, KBOO radio, Willamette Weekly, Portland, OR

"Great stuff." -Gus Ziesing, New England Performer Magazine

"Her voice is rich and powerful, 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, CA.

"Crossing the Border" ... 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 Editorial Team/Reviews

Praise for Anne's Third Release, Braille:

"Anne Weiss has brough heart and soul back into folk music. Her new release, Braille, is a great achievement".

- Mike Meyer, KRVM, Corvallis/Eugene, OR

ìOn her third independent release, Braille, Weiss stirs her bountiful talents and eclectic musical passions into a sumptuous musical stew. Itís 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.î

-Jeff Rosenberg, Williamette Week, Portland Oregon.

Anne Weiss has created an album that is so lush and beautifully produced...unforgettable melodies, gorgeous lyrics. Braille is pure Anne Weiss...all about life, life, life.

-Dar Williams, singer/songwriter

www.anneweiss.com 1-800-611-4698 www.mp3.com/anneweiss

www.cdbaby.com

about anne weiss

Portland Oregon based singer-songwriter, poet, guitarist and pianist Anne Weiss is known for her immense bluesy voice, positive presence and striking original songs. With a musical style that encompasses new folk, blues and gospel, and a writing style that is poetic, humorous and political, Anne is unique. Besides solo and collaborative performances nationwide, she also teaches songwriting, singing "for the vocally challenged", spontaneous choir, and guitar workshops.

Anne experiences music and writing as a passion and as a way of creating community and change. Her attitude towards music started from her childhood on the West side of Manhattan where she was exposed to different musical cultures. In the same week, Anne would take lessons from her grandmother, a concert pianist and patron saint of patience; sit on punching bags at the nearby dojo (marital arts gym) when it transformed into a streetperson's coffee house and music jam every Saturday night; listen to disco music on the radio; dance to Afro-Cuban drumming in Central Park; and fall asleep or wake up to early Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Jackson Brown, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Cockburn, Bonnie Raitt, Marvin Gaye and B.B. King albums stolen from her older siblings.

After 14 years of being a part-time musician, Anne made the full-time plunge in 1994 after most of the folk music enthusiasts of Vermont and national musicians such as Dar Williams, Keith Greeninger, and Jim Infantino kept encouraging her to make an album. The result was Tomorrow's Gate, a live production recorded in three days straight with a host of inventive and talented musicians. Of that album, Anne says: "If I had known that a project like that just couldn't be done, I wouldn't have done it. Luckily I was naive about the impossible, so I gathered all my favorite musicians in a room, kept a constant supply of coffee and pizza on hand, and cut an album that has a wonderful alchemy ".

In 1998 Anne released her second album, Crossing the Border, whose guests include Dar Williams, Keith Greeninger, Tim Ellis, Jofus, and many others. This album embraces a musical diversity which includes a live blues jam, a song with the Burlington Ecumenical Gospel Choir, horn sections, wurlitzer, clarinet, slide, e-bow, and a Spanish love song. The new album has been praised as "brilliant...incisive... rich...wonderful."

Anne's music reflects a philosophy that demands hope against hard times. She is constantly looking at choices that people have to make for themselves and the way they will affect their lives. This choice is reflected in her song "Secret" when she asks: 'If today were your last day/would you horde your love/or would you give it away?'. Again and again there is the struggle between day-to-day survival and the necessity of joy. For Anne, everyday requires resistance as well as celebration, as heard in "Day of Celebration": 'Some of us are hungry, some of us live in pain/but every day we work for change/is a good day just the same/and I'll make each day/a day of celebration....

Anne has shared the stage with Dar Williams, Ani DiFranco, Dan Fogelberg, Richie Havens, Greg Brown, Catie Curtis, Patti Larkin, Cheryl Wheeler, Aztec Two-Step, Guy Davis, Ellis Paul, Jonatha Brooke, Sonia of Dissapear Fear, Pierce Pettis, and Guardabarranco. She appears on recordings with Shawn Colvin, Jim Infantino, Patti Larkin, and many others. Her current heroes are musicians John Cephas, Phil Wiggins, Aretha Franklin, Angelique Kidjo, and Dave Grisman; poets Mary Oliver, Kim Stafford and Naomi Shahib Nye; Buddhist Monk, poet and activist Thich Nhat Hahn; whoever is responsible for inventing Salsa Dancing; and the organizers of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union.

For more info/booking:

ANNE WEISS

P.O. Box 15281 Portland, OR 97293;

likapika@aol.com

CD ORDERS, WEB SITES:

www.anneweiss.com

www.folkweb.com

www.cdbaby.com

Crossing the Border CD Reviews

Anne Weiss 503-232-1720 likapika@aol.com

"Crossing the Border" ... 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 Editorial Team/Reviews

Boy, woman - you rank right up there for me with Bonnie Raitte, Ella Fitzgerald, and several other female musicians that have served to inspire me throughout my life. I record chord structures - overlay harmonies to songs I know, write a few, sing 4 parts in barbershop arrangements, and just play around. I'm looking forward to working on my rehearsal tape. Speaking of tapes, I just purchased the 2 CD's you have available. LOVED that acappella that you sang about the family in Nicaragua. I lived in Honduras for 3 yrs in the early 80's. Thanks for your expression and artistic ability and your enthusiasm, etc. !!!

Pat York

"Anne's distinctive voice, guitar playing, songwriting, humor and overall stage presence far surpasses much of the 'major label' talent. Her new album, Crossing the Border, is a brilliant CD. I love the variety, arrangement, writing, singing, backup, and production. It just couldn't be better!" -Mike Myer, KRVM Radio, Concert Producer, Eugene, OR.

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