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Worzel Maazel at the Guggenheim
Worzel Maazel was born in New York City, America, to a wealthy Jewish couple. His father was a partner with Maazel - Reimann - Cohen where he specialised in commercial law. His mother came from a rich established family and gave the family the all important social clout. Both parents were practicing orthodox Jews and Worzel was well indoctrinated into the Jewish faith from the beginning.
Worzel was the eldest child and felt the responsibility very strongly. He was very shy in his early years and spent most of his time reading and watching the world from his upper story apartment. Although he tried hard at school he was often tired and failed to excel.
Worzel's grandfather: Solomon Maazel, was a famous violinist in the 1920s and 30s, it was said that the voice of Stradivari spoke through him and as a consequence Worzel was sent to violin lessons from the age of 6. His parents insisted on a strict regime of practice, 3 hours a day, along with his sister Eidel and brothers Hymie and Anshel. By the time he was 10 he had learnt to hate the violin with a passion and deliberately played every second note a semitone low.
A gifted teacher at Worzel's secondary college realised what Worzel was up to and suggested that he try the piano. Since the reports from his violin teacher were so poor, his parents were easily convinced and allowed him to change. Not long after this his 3 siblings also requested the same change but Worzel threatened to string them up with piano wire if they persisted so they switched to the clarinet instead.
Worzel became utterly entranced with his instrument and played every spare minute of the day. Within 2 years he was playing Beethoven sonatas and working on the Tchaikovsky piano concerto. There was no other ambition within him and he refused his father's constant demands that he attend Law school. He duly attended the famous Julliard school where he studied piano.
The freedom of jazz improvisation that he was exposed to there blew his mind and he hungrily absorbed all he could of jazz from the very beginning. He soon formed a modern trio: "Cats Eyes" and began playing clubs. The trio expanded and contracted as various soloists came and went but the trio went on, year after year.
In 2002 Willie Nevsky the trio's drummer tragically died from an amphetamine overdose and Worzel stopped gigging and took stock. Although he had being playing brilliant piano for twenty years and more, yet the many gigs had done nothing but pay the rent, there was no fame, no great legacy and no nest egg.
Not long after this he met Warren Mars at an opening, who pointed out that he could play rock organ without having to think and milk the rewards he had been missing. Worzel needed little convincing and in 2004 he joined "The Martian Way".
Influences: Beethoven, Shostakovich, Chopin, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Thelonius Monk, Chick Correa, Richard Rodgers.
Likes: fresh bagels, special fried rice, espresso, Drambuie, "The Dying Earth", "South Park", observing, New York, intelligent people.
Dislikes: fried eggs, ketchup, milk shakes, watching TV, sport, war, the government, "The Nanny", fashionable people.