Jazz Articles about Jeff Tain Watts

Dan Wilson: Vessels Of Wood And Earth

by Chris May
April 9, 2021

Dan Wilson's Vessels Of Wood And Earth starts well. Just over a minute into track one, the guitarist launches into a lightning-speed solo which sounds a little like Wes Montgomery channeling Charlie Parker on speed. On track two, Stevie Wonder's well named “Bird Of Beauty," he rings the changes, exchanging Montgomery and Parker for Pat Metheny and sobriety, while pianist Christian Sands swaps his piano for a Lyle Mays-esque synthesizer program. Unfortunately, this early promise is not ...

Troy Roberts: Days Like These

by Dan Bilawsky
October 28, 2019

Days like these, when you have the opportunity to hear Troy Roberts fronting an all-star organ group, are pretty nice. Roberts--one of the most underappreciated tenor saxophonists on the scene, a mainstay in organ kingpin Joey DeFrancesco's band and an erstwhile sideman for drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts--shows a particular affinity for this format. A complete artist with a muscular yet fluid sound, soulful bearing and unerringly sensitive ears, it's like he was made for this music. Bringing ...

Jeff "Tain" Watts' Elvin Jones Alumni Band at Jazz Standard

by Adrien H. Tillmann
September 13, 2017

Troy Roberts: Tales & Tones

by Jerome Wilson
April 1, 2017

Troy Roberts is a saxophonist from Australia who has made his way in America working with the likes of Christian McBride, Jeff “Tain" Watts and Joey DeFrancesco. On this CD he demonstrates a forceful saxophone sound married to original ideas in rhythm and tempo.Roberts' plays deep, swooping sax mostly over tricky, pounding beats set up by Watts. The drummer pushes a sprightly version of “Take The 'A' Train along with relaxed hip hop beats before Roberts lays into ...

Troy Roberts: Tales & Tones

by Geannine Reid
January 21, 2017

Saxophonist and composer Troy Roberts continues to present music that retains a distinctive strength and originality, still vastly rooted in tradition, while firmly grounded in new perspectives. Hailing from the remote location of Perth, West Australia, Roberts has received numerous awards including 3 consecutive DownBeat Jazz Soloist Awards, a Grammy Nomination medal, and was the only Australian semi-finalist in the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Graduating with a Bachelor of Music at the young age of 19, he ...

Jeff "Tain" Watts Family Reunion Band at the Jazz Standard

by Tomas Pena
February 3, 2014

Jeff “Tain" Watts Family Reunion Band Jazz Standard New York, NY January 23, 2014 Sigmund Freud would have had a field day with Jeff “Tain" Watts' compositions. Case in point: “The Devil's Ringtone," where Watts conjures up an imaginary conversation between Satan and a corrupt politician. The tune features Paul Bollenback, whose electric guitar eerily captures the pleas of the politician, and Frank Lacey, whose growling trombone captures Satan's devilish reply. The tune ...

Jeff "Tain" Watts: Watts

by Terrell Kent Holmes
February 24, 2009

The title of drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts new CD, Watts, isn't as superficial as it seems. While referring naturally to the leader, it also recalls the site of the apocalyptic riots in 1965, a neighborhood that produced jazz legend Charles Mingus. This is important because the tunes on the disc, written by Watts, are reverential, referential and have a satirical edge that echoes some of Mingus' finest moments. This disc reteams Watts with his longtime partners in ...