Jeff Tain Watts

Doug Wamble: Blues in the Present Tense

by Vic Albani
April 16, 2024

I testi cantati del “Blues al presente" di Doug Wamble parlano degli americani “turlupinati" dal cinismo del signor Donald Trump: «Non leggere i loro giornali / Non guardare le loro news / Non cominciare a pensare, baby», canta Wamble in “Blues in the Present Tense," mettendosi proprio nei panni del discusso personaggio mettendo in qualche modo in guardia i connazionali in relazione alle prossime presidenziali. Trattandosi di una realtà quale quella statunitense, l'uso del blues quale “strumento di trasmissione," sembrerebbe ...

David Kikoski: Surf's Up

by C. Andrew Hovan
June 17, 2023

It seems that the show tunes of the '30s, '40s, and '50s have served as fodder for several generations of jazz musicians, either providing their own melodies for subsequent development or lending their harmonic framework for the jazz writer to use as a basis for an original tune. Most recently, we've seen attention begin to shift to popular material of the current set with some interesting results. Pianist Kenny Barron has recorded a delicate version of Sting's “Fragile," Bob Belden ...

Conrad Herwig: Land of Shadow

by C. Andrew Hovan
May 1, 2023

In the spirit of Miles Davis and a select number of his followers, Conrad Herwig in the course of his musical endeavors spanning some 20 years has strived to keep the music inching forward to new and previously undiscovered vistas. His versatility as demonstrated by an ability to transcend genres, be it Eddie Palmieri's Afro-Cuban muse or the repertory bent of the Mingus Big Band, also raises its head in his outstanding series of Criss Cross recordings that began with ...

Michael Feinberg: Hard Times

by Troy Dostert
March 22, 2022

Although the Covid pandemic has been devastating to the artistic community, and certainly jazz musicians are no exception, albums like Michael Feinberg's Hard Times point to the possibility of hopeful resilience. With a top-shelf bunch of colleagues and smart compositions with rhythmically crafty arrangements, the bassist's eighth release is a winner, with a plucky spirit and satisfying grooves in abundance. Feinberg pulled this band together in October 2020, and with folks like drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts and pianist ...

Dino Govoni: Hiding in Plain Sight

by Jack Bowers
December 5, 2021

Tenor saxophonist Dino Govoni acquits himself well on the curiously-titled Hiding in Plain Sight, his third album for Whaling City Sound, as do his colleagues on this basically bop-leaning, mainly quintet studio date. The qualifier “mainly" is necessary because trumpeter Alex Sipiagin performs on only five of the album's nine tracks. On the others, Govoni is cradled by his capable rhythm section, pianist Henry Hey, bassist Michael Pope and drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts. Each of the numbers ...

Eric Wyatt: A Song of Hope

by Jack Bowers
October 25, 2021

On A Song of Hope, his second album for Whaling City Sound, saxophonist Eric Wyatt offers more than hope; he offers assurance that contemporary jazz is alive and well in and around his home base of Brooklyn, NY. Wyatt, the godson of another rather well-known saxophonist, Sonny Rollins, performs in groups of various sizes, from quartet to octet, with vocals by Samara Joy on two numbers, “Fragile" and Wyatt's “Say Her Name." The almost-constants are pianist Donald Vega, bassist Eric ...

Benito Gonzalez: Sing To The World

by Jim Worsley
May 7, 2021

Unbridled rhythmic fury fueled by a rich harmonic underbelly is the essence of Sing To The World. Pianist Benito Gonzalez has once again assembled a vibrant cast that flourishes on ten original creations. Inventive and energetic, the ensemble gels in the moment and establishes interplay with rich and intelligent conversation. The depth and articulation comes as no surprise, with reference to his previous works as a leader and the seven years Gonzalez spent as a member of Kenny Garrett's band. ...

5th Annual Central Jersey Jazz Festival: September 15-17, 2017

Source: Virginia DeBerry
September 7, 2017

The 5th Annual Central Jersey Jazz Festival, a three day, FREE, mega-musical event will take place Friday, September 15, 6PM to 10PM in Flemington, Saturday, September 16, 1PM to 6PM in New Brunswick and Sunday, September 17, 1PM to 6PM in Somerville. All events are BYO seating and will take place rain or shine. The Central Jersey Jazz Festival is a result of an unprecedented collaborative partnership of three New Jersey County seats- Flemington, New Brunswick and Somerville, working in ...
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Guitarist/Composer David Gilmore Releases "Numerology" "Live at the Ja77 Standard" Featuring David Gilmore with Claudia Acua A, Miguel Zenon, Luis Perdomo, Christian McBride, Jeff "Tain" Watts and Mino Cinelu

Source: Two for the Show Media
October 11, 2012

Numerology Suite is musical exploration into the mystical, divine, and spiritual meaning of numbers, which reflect the creation of the Universe and the underlying structure upon which the material world is built. Music is the language of the Universe, and the elements of music - harmony, melody and rhythm, are all expressions of number. Pythagoras, the father of mathematics, taught that the numbers one through nine represent the universal principles and progressive cycles in life. Here David Gilmore invites the ...
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Two for Tain!: Jeff "Tain" Watts - Family and Laura Kahle - Circular (2011)

Source: Something Else!
April 22, 2011

It's been a couple of years since we last heard from pre-eminent jazz rhythmist Jeff “Tain" Watts, when his star-studded engagement Watts was introduced. This past April 19, Watts' own Dark Key Music label trotted out two new records, one by the thirty-year vet Watts, and the first one by an Australian-born pocket trumpet player by the name of Laura Kahle. There’s more that brings these two records together than the simple fact that they are coming from the same ...
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CD: Jeff "Tain" Watts

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
February 26, 2009

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Watts, the Place, Inspires Jeff 'Tain' Watts

Source: Michael Ricci
February 21, 2009

It was more than a shared name that first got the attention of drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts. Even as a kid growing up in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, he recognized something profound about a distant neighborhood in Los Angeles.

He knew of those six days of rioting in 1965, but he also knew that Watts was the hometown of Charles Mingus, the monumental bassist and jazz composer whose work was often fueled by the heavier sociopolitical issues of his ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Jeff "Tain" Watts

Source: Michael Ricci
January 20, 2009

All About Jazz is celebrating Jeff “Tain" Watts' birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Jeff “Tain" Watts

Jeff “Tain" Watts is one of the most in demand jazz drummers in the world today. Jeff Watts majored in classical percussion at Pittsburgh\'s Duquesne University, where he was primarily a timpanist... more

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Drummer/Bandleader Jeff "Tain" Watts Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
January 19, 2009

The most visible and exciting drummer of his generation, Jeff “Tain" Watts burst into the jazz spotlight in the early '80s as a member of Wynton Marsalis' first quintet and into the general public's eye in the role of Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee's film Mo' Better Blues (1990) and as a member of The Tonight Show band led by Branford Marsalis, in whose quartet he's drummed for over 25 years. Since leaving the world of television and returning to ...
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Drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
October 15, 2007

If you've listened to any jazz at all in the past couple decades, you've probably heard drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts. His discography is long and impressive, including appearances on many Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed recordings by various men named Marsalis. He's also led several of his own dates, including the new album Folk's Songs (Dark Key Music, 2007) with his band The Ebonix.

All About Jazz contributor Jason Crane talked with Watts about his roots, his musical relationships, and the ...
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The Jazz Session: Jeff "Tain" Watts

Source: All About Jazz
May 14, 2007

On the new episode of The Jazz Session, Jason Crane interviews drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts. You might know him from his years with Wynton Marsalis, or his years with Branford Marsalis, or his stint as the drummer on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, or from his many, many recordings as a leader and sideman. Tain's new album is Folk's Songs (Dark Key Music, 2007). It features his band The Ebonix with Marcus Strickland on saxophone, David Kikoski on piano ...
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Dekel Bor, Francois Moutin, Jeff "Tain" Watts Upcoming Performance Dates

Source: All About Jazz
July 19, 2006

Dekel Bor will be playing a series of three shows with two of the most important musicians in the jazz world: Bassist Francois Moutin-who plays regularly in Bor's trio-is among the most important bass players alive, and is a true innovator on his instrument. Drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts came into the jazz world in the early 80's in a legendary band led by Wynton and Branford Marsalis. The music he created in that band changed the way drummers play all ...
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