As one of the most visible drummers of his generation, Tonight Show
rhythm man Jeff "Tain" Watts was not going to bring his own
compositions out with just anyone! So, he joined forces with old
bandmate (and Leno connector) Branford Marsalis (who also produced
the album). Watts also reunited the sax-y Marsalis with his horn- er-
trumpet-playing/Pulitzer Prize-winning brother Wynton and li'l bro Delfeayo
(who also had a percussive hand in the production). Together with
pianist/arranger/dearly departed friend Kenny Krikland and bassists
Reginald Veal and Eric Revis, Watts debuts his stunning stick work with a
decalogue of original skin games.
Opening with "The Impaler" (whose only real relation to its title is a
stake-driving pre-recapitualtive solo and an ired vamp made famous by
the Ohio Players), Tain avoids going from Vlad to Hearst through the tale
of "Muphkin Man," a rhythmic cat far cooler than Rosebud's owner could
ever be. Though it is ocassionally difficult to discern who is the cap-Tain of
the musical ship, Jeff takes the floor mightily in such offerings as
"Attainment," "Trieste" and the "Silent Night/6 O'Clock News"-y "MLK
Shake-Up Call," a turbulent tribute to Dr. King and the victims of the 1994
Northridge earthquake. From tributes to lost heroes and reworkings of
older compositions to a final multi-layered/multi-influenced musical
conversation, Watts and friends cover many bases in this ten inning
game. Though some of his solos get a bit noisy and unwieldly, Tain's
strong and subtle support of his talented bandmates shows him to be a
well-positioned bandleader who does not need the help of a late night
comic to get the audience involved.
Jeff "Tain" Watts at All About Jazz.
Visit Jeff "Tain" Watts on the web.
Track listing: Impaler; Muphkin Man; Attainment; Pools of Amber; Blutain, Jr.; Wry Koln; MLK Shake-Up Call; Paen; Sigmund Groid; Trieste; Blutain's Big Adventure.
Style: Contemporary/Smooth
Published: January 20, 2003
Read more reviews of Citizen Tain.
Discuss
Articles by Matt Robinson
So Much
Pennies from Heaven
Steady Rollin' Man
Love Songs
Smooth Sounds
Here’s to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years
Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott’s
Recent CD Reviews | More CD Reviews
Upcoming events for Jeff "Tain" Watts:
As one of the most visible drummers of his generation, Tonight Show
rhythm man Jeff "Tain" Watts was not going to bring his own
compositions out with just anyone! So, he joined forces with old
bandmate (and Leno connector) Branford Marsalis (who also produced
the album). Watts also reunited the sax-y Marsalis with his horn- er-
trumpet-playing/Pulitzer Prize-winning brother Wynton and li'l bro Delfeayo
(who also had a percussive hand in the production). Together with
pianist/arranger/dearly departed friend Kenny Krikland and bassists
Reginald Veal and Eric Revis, Watts debuts his stunning stick work with a
decalogue of original skin games.
