Jazz Articles about Ernie Watts

Ernie Watts: To the Point - Live at the Jazz Bakery

by Nicholas F. Mondello
November 13, 2008

Ernie WattsTo The Point - Live At The Jazz BakeryFlying Dolphin Records2008

After hearing saxophonist Ernie Watts' CD To The Point - Live At The Jazz Bakey , it's easy to imagine that he possesses superhuman talents similar to those held by members of the fictional Fantastic Four. He breathes fire, can cool with ice, whip up a storm, and shape his sax sound in ways otherworldly. This is a powerful, yet ...

Ernie Watts: Flying High

by Ian Patterson
September 11, 2007

Very few musicians have a resume quite as varied or as impressive as saxophonist Ernie Watts. His musical curiosity and tremendous versatility have led him to perform in contexts as diverse as a TV show band, with orchestras, on small and big screen soundtracks, on over five hundred recording sessions which include many of the greatest names in Motown, in duo and in quartet settings as well as in a number of the most distinguished big bands in modern jazz ...

Ernie Watts Quartet: Analog Man

by Ian Patterson
July 6, 2007

The opening two-note piano riff, the crisp rim shots from the drums and the walking bass line on the opening number and title track get Analog Man off to the most swinging of starts. Saxophonist Ernie Watts introduces the melody and proceeds to craft a solo so full of invention, strength and lyricism that when he lays out to allow pianist Christof Saenger his turn the surprise is that only three minutes have passed.

Watts' playing on “Analog ...

Ernie Watts at The Living Room

by Ian Patterson
September 19, 2006

Ernie Watts, Jeremy Monteiro, Belinda Moody, Shawn Kelley.

The Living Room Sheraton Grande Bangkok

12 June 2006

A saxophone that beautiful, black, embossed in gold leaf, and whose bell seemed to radiate golden light, is made to produce the finest of music. For that, it should be in the hands of a master craftsman and tonight it was. In Ernie Watts, it couldn't have had a better conduit for communication with the audience.

Backed by The Living Room's ...

Jackie Ryan: This Heart of Mine

by C. Michael Bailey
January 13, 2004

The thing that first struck me about this fine recording was the concrete accompaniment provided Ms. Ryan. Solid, effortless swing is what propels this veteran vocalist through This Heart of Mine.  The high quality of this swing, which I credit to crack arranging, is that much more a surprise when considering that the arrangements on this recording were very much a concerted effort.  All are uniformly fine, but I must tip my hat to pianist Jon Meyer for his astute direction ...

Jackie Ryan: This Heart of Mine

by Roger Crane
January 5, 2004

You simply cannot sing a song any better than Jackie Ryan does. And you cannot make a better jazz vocal CD than this one. It is perfect. If that sounds too reverent, let me change the praise to “perfectly wonderful.” Each of the elements is truly wonderful: the choice of songs, the arrangements, accompanying musicians, even the ordering of the songs. And, most importantly, of course, Jackie Ryan! She is a smart, sophisticated vocalist for grown ups and this is ...

Jackie Ryan: This Heart Of Mine

by Jim Santella
October 16, 2003

Listen to Jackie Ryan's voice and consider this: how important is it to you that vocal jazz come from the heart?

Ryan’s latest release proves that nothing works better on your soul than the real thing. With three teams of top-rate West Coast sidemen and welcome appearances from several key guests, Ryan’s straight-ahead program settles in with a charm seldom seen in today’s crowded singer’s market. She’s genuine.

Slow ballads, gentle bossa novas, and ...