John Coltrane and Charlie Parker Blew My Mind - Ernie Watts

http://www.billytaylorjazz.com presents an interview with Ernie Watts, and then a performance of Star Eyes featuring the Billy Taylor Trio. Ernie Watts was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He began playing saxophone at thirteen and later attended the Berklee College of Music on a Downbeat scholarship, after a brief period at West Chester University. He toured with Buddy Rich in the mid-1960s, occupying one of the alto saxophone chairs, with Lou Marini occupying the other. Later, he visited Africa on a US State Department tour with Oliver Nelson's group. Watts also played tenor saxophone with The Tonight Show Band under Doc Severinsen for 20 years. He also was a featured soloist on many of Marvin Gaye's original albums on Motown during the 1970s, as well as on many other pop and r&b sessions during 25 years as a first-call musician in the studios in LA. He has won two Grammy Awards as an instrumentalist.
In the mid-1980s Watts decided to rededicate himself to jazz. He recorded and toured with German guitarist and composer Torsten de Winkel, drummer Steve Smith and keyboardist Tom Coster. He was invited to join bassist Charlie Haden's Quartet West. Watts and Haden met when Haden heard Ernie play the Michel Columbier piece Nightbird (written for Watts) at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and Haden came backstage to meet Watts . Watts had earlier played the saxophone on the Grease soundtrack and clarinet on The Color Purple. He also played the saxophone on the opening theme song of the popular 80s sitcom Night Court.
Ernie Watts was also featured in the Windows XP edition Jazz preview. The song he was featured in was "Highway Blues". He plays black-lacquered Keilwerth SX90R saxophones, one of which can clearly be seen in the cover photograph of his 1995 "Unity" recording.
In early 2008, Watts' Analog Man on his own label Flying Dolphin Records won the award in the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Jazz Album.
Recently he has recorded a new Quartet West album with Charlie Haden, and also works with vocalist Kurt Elling, whose album Dedicated To You, featuring Watts, won a Grammy in 2010 for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

He tours Europe twice a year with his own Ernie Watts Quartet, and is often a featured artist in Asia, as well as in summer jazz festivals the world over. His record company Flying Dolphin Records produces his own music with his US quartet as well as his European band.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Charlie Parker
• Ernie Watts
• Star Eyes
• jazz
• sax
• bebop
• piano
• Berklee College of Music
• Downbeat
• Oliver Nelson
• The Tonight Show Band
• Doc Severinsen
• Marvin Gaye
• Motown
• Charlie Haden
• Quartet West
• Kurt Elling
• Grammy

[1979saxman]

Bret,

I've always meant to ask you when these videos took place? They're priceless!

thanks!

[JazzVideoGuy]

@1979saxman This is from a concert that took place March 2, 2000

[kgrew99]

4:53 Ain't that the truth. "Improvisation becomes an elaborate game of multiple choice." Never heard it put that way before. But very inspiring nonetheless.

[vegandragon]

R.I.P MR. BILLY TAYLOR....When I was in high school I had the chance to meet him. I remember him saying that music was his secret to staying young looking or feeling so young as he did. He was a good man.

[TheFlutevisions]

Ernie is one of the reason I play music for a living. Love you Brother.

[iJiggsy]

Ernie Watts is a total cat at everything he does. I am always impressed by his playing.

I didn't know what his voice sounded like until now, but he definitely sounds like an Ernie. Sounds like he could be a character on the Simpsons.

But, nonetheless, total CAT.

[claryscat]

Thanks Bret, you came through again! I've been listening to music for over 50 years and it occurs to me that this stuff will all be eventually archival. When artists who play at this level of musicianship create, they are flying with out a net... standing there naked, channeling directly from the creative source... one can not possibly speak or be anything other than the heartfelt soulful truth. You know these are, were, good human beings with great intentions. You can't play what you ain't.

[Dmila220]

BRET STOP THE ADS!

[groupshot]

While perusing You Tube, I saw this one on Ernie Watts. 'Had to stop and listen. Hah! This is the cat that used to play so much horn when with Buddy Rich's band when it first kicked off in in ~'66. What a band - the best band Buddy ever had. Ernie was the fleeting alto sax ever featured, along with Jay Corre on tenor sax, and the other alto sax who gave the sax section that signature, melodic sound.

[Antiks72]

New to Jazz, and just had to comment. Ernie is insane!

[LadeeMelody]

Another great post from you, thank you!!!!

[psychkoala]

@obayifu

Go ahead & clap.

It'll make you feel good.