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Heath Watts

About Me

Heath Watts is a soprano saxophonist living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who specializes in free improvisation and free jazz. He has released two albums on Leo Records, Bright Yellow With Bass with bassist Blue Armstrong in 2017, and Breathe If You Can with drummer Dan Pell in 2008. Roeba Records released Philadelphia Company #1 in 2007 with Watts, drummer Dan Pell, and guitarist Barry Chabala. He has also self-released the album 2x with pianist Alexandra Swaney in 2007. Heath enjoys the duo format because of the intimacy of the interaction duos offer, but he also enjoys solo and larger group improvisation.

A soprano saxophone specialist, Heath includes Steve Lacy, John Coltrane, Evan Parker, David Liebman, and Lol Coxhill among his major influences. While learning to play the soprano saxophone, he relied heavily on the pedagogical materials of NEA Jazz Master David Liebman. Heath has had the opportunity to perform with David Liebman, Sam Newsome, Vinny Golia, Andrew Cyrille, Marc Helias, Andrew Raffo Dewar, Jack Wright, François Grillot, Jay Rosen, Michael Szekely, Robert W. Getz, and Matt Lavelle.

My Jazz Story

Heath Watts is a soprano saxophonist living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who specializes in free improvisation and free jazz. He has released three albums on Leo Records, Sensoria, Bright Yellow With Bass, and Breathe If You Can. Roeba Records released Philadelphia Company #1 in 2007 with Watts, drummer Dan Pell, and guitarist Barry Chabala. He has also self-released the album 2x with pianist Alexandra Swaney in 2007. A soprano saxophone specialist, Heath includes Steve Lacy, John Coltrane, Evan Parker, David Liebman, and Lol Coxhill among his major influences. While learning to play the soprano saxophone, he relied heavily on the pedagogical materials of NEA Jazz Master David Liebman. Heath has had the opportunity to perform with David Liebman, Sam Newsome, Vinny Golia, Andrew Cyrille, Marc Helias Andrew Raffo Dewar, Jack Wright, François Grillot, Jay Rosen, Michael Szekely, and Matt Lavelle. Heath's web site (https://heathwatts.net/) will provide you the opportunity to hear and purchase tracks and albums from his discography. In addition, you can follow his performance schedule, see concert footage, and see concert photos. There will also be a blog section where he will share his insights about practicing and taming the soprano saxophone and improvisation. Heath considers this site to be an opportunity to connect with those of you who enjoy his music and would like to know more about him and his work. If you would like to talk with Heath or have comments or suggestions about this site or his music, he’d like to hear from you. Be sure to sign up for his mailing list so he can keep you informed about shows, recordings, and other exciting items. Also, if you would like to discuss a performance opportunity for or with Heath, please contact him.