|
Ernie
Watts Quartet
"The celebrated young
lions of jazz may have daunting power and speed,
but few of them have what tenor saxophonist Watts
has honed to perfection; phrasing as natural as
falling water and a sound that is at once steeped
in tradition and wholly unique.”
- People Magazine
Two-time Grammy Award winner Ernie Watts is one of
the most versatile and prolific saxophone players
on the music scene. In a diverse career that has
spanned more than 40 years, he has been featured
on over 500 recordings by artists ranging from
Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa.
After 15 solo records for a variety of labels,
large and small, Watts started Flying Dolphin
Records. “I’ve reached a place in my life where I
need to make music on my terms and starting my own
label provided me with a new sense of freedom,”
comments Watts. Flying Dolphin has several
projects in release, including numerous titles by
the Ernie Watts Quartet and has also re-released
many of the fine recordings the artist made for
JVC which feature talent such as Arturo Sandoval,
Jack DeJohnette, Geri Allen, Mulgrew Miller, Steve
Swallow, Jimmy Cobb and Kenny Barron.
Watts started playing saxophone at age 13. He soon
won a Downbeat Scholarship to the Berklee College
of Music in Boston. He left Berklee for an
important spot, playing in the Buddy Rich Band.
When he moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, he
began working in the big bands of Gerald Wilson
and Oliver Nelson. It was with Oliver Nelson that
Watts had the occasion to record with the
legendary Thelonious Monk on "Monk’s Blues"
(Columbia).
During the 1970s and ‘80s, Watts was immersed in
the busy production scene of Los Angeles. His
signature sound was heard on countless TV shows
and movie scores, almost all the early West Coast
Motown sessions and with pop stars such as Aretha
Franklin and Steely Dan. At the end of a long day
of sessions, he could frequently be heard playing
fiery jazz in late-night clubs around Los Angeles.
In 1983, the film composer Michel Colombier wrote
an orchestral piece entitled “Nightbird” for
Watts. At the work’s inaugural performance at the
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Charlie
Haden came backstage to introduce himself. The
meeting led to Watts becoming a charter member of
Haden’s critically acclaimed Quartet West.
Watts’ eclectic mix of career activities includes
work with vocalist Kurt Elling and drum legend
Billy Cobham. A typical year finds Watts touring
Europe with his own quartet, in Asia as a featured
guest artist and performing at summer festivals
throughout North America and Europe. A skilled
educator, he continues his commitment to music
education by conducting student workshops and has
compiled a collection of orchestral arrangements
for guest soloist appearances with symphonies.
Discography
A
Simple Truth
|
Ernie
Watts Quartet
|
Flying
Dolphin (2014)
|
|
Oasis
|
Ernie Watts Quartet
|
Flying Dolphin (2011)
|
|
Four Plus Four
|
Ernie Watts Quartet
|
Flying Dolphin (2009)
|
|
To The Point
|
Ernie Watts Quartet
|
Flying Dolphin (2007)
|
|
Analog Man
|
Ernie Watts Quartet
|
Flying Dolphin (2006)
|
|
Spirit Song
|
Ernie Watts Quartet
|
Flying Dolphin (2005)
|
|
ALIVE
|
Ernie Watts Quartet
|
Flying Dolphin (2004)
|
|
Reflections
|
Ernie Watts & Ron
Feuer
|
Flying Dolphin (2003)
|
|
Classic Moods
|
Ernie Watts
|
JVC Music (1999)
|
|
The Long Road Home
|
Ernie Watts
|
JVC Music (1996)
|
|
Unity
|
Ernie Watts
|
JVC Music (1994)
|
|
Reaching Up
|
Ernie Watts
|
JVC Music (1993)
|
|
Stand Up
|
Ernie Watts |
Odyssey (Singapore
-1992)
|
|
Afoxé (“ah-foh-SHAY”)
|
Ernie Watts w/Gilberto
Gil
|
CTI (1991)
|
|
Ernie Watts w/Gamalon
|
Ernie Watts w/Gamalon
|
Amherst (1989)
|
|
The Ernie Watts Quartet
|
Ernie Watts Quartet
|
JVC Music (1987)
|
|
Sanctuary
|
Ernie Watts
|
Qwest/Warner Bros
(1986)
|
|
Musican
|
Ernie Watts
|
Qwest/Warner Bros.
(1985)
|
|
Chariots Of Fire
|
Ernie Watts
|
Qwest/Warner Bros.
(1981)
|
|
Look In Your Heart
|
Ernie Watts
|
Elektra (1980)
|
|
The Wonder Bag
|
Ernie Watts Encounter
|
Vault (1972)
|
|
Come Together
|
Ernie Watts with
Richard "Groove" Holmes
|
World Pacific Jazz
(1970)
|
|
Planet Love
|
Ernie Watts
|
World Pacific Jazz
(1969)
|
Awards
Grammy
Awards
“He is one of the greatest living tenor
saxophonists, at the top of his game.”
- Ian Patterson / All About Jazz
Downloads
Note: all of the
documents, audio and video samples below can
be downloaded and used in your publicity by
opening the item and then saving to your
computer. Or you can copy the link and
use the link on your website by right clicking
on the link and then selecting "Copy link
location".
>
Ernie Watts Biography (pdf)
>
Frankfurt Music Prize 2014 (pdf)
>
Symphony_Orchestra_Arrangements (doc)
Photos
>
Ernie Watts Press Photo #1
>
Ernie Watts Press Photo #2
>
Ernie Watts Hi-Res Press Photo #1
>
Ernie Watts Hi-Res Press Photo #2
>
Ernie Watts Hi-Res Press Photo #3
Audio Samples
 "The_Sound:
Morning" from "A Simple Truth" Flying Dolphin
Records 2014 (mp3 sample)
"No_Lonely_Nights"
from "A simple Truth" Flying Dolphin Records
2014 (mp3 sample)
The_Road_We're_On"
from " A Simple Truth" Flying Dolphin Records
2014 (mp3 sample).mp3
Ernie
Watts Quartet - Crescent (2011 Sample mp3)
Ernie
Watts Quartet - Shaw 'Nuff (2011 Sample mp3)
Ernie
Watts Quartet - Oasis (2011 Sample mp3)
Ernie
Watts Quartet - Reaching Up (Live 2007 Sample
mp3)
Ernie
Watts Quartet - Season of Change (Live 2007
Sample mp3)
Ernie
Watts Quartet - To The Point (Live 2007 Sample
mp3)
YouTube Videos
 Ernie Watts
performs "No Doubt About It" (Live 1986)
Ernie Watts
Quartet (Live 2012)
Ernie Watts
Quartet perform in Warsaw, Poland (Live 2012)
Artist
Web Page
www.erniewatts.com
Request PR Materials
Click
here to request a printed PR package on
the Ernie Watts Quartet including his latest
CD*
Click
here to request a digital download copy
of the
latest the
Ernie Watts Quartet CD*
* Note CD's and
digital access to CD's are strictly for
performing arts centers, festivals, clubs
and for producers of live
performances.
All other requests should be
forwarded to the label.
|
