Jazz Articles about Jeff Tain Watts

Tain & the Ebonix: Folk's Songs

by Woodrow Wilkins
December 1, 2007

There are tribute albums, and then there's Folk's Songs, Jeff “Tain Watts' debut release on Dark Key Music under the group name Tain & the Ebonix. Rather than the typical collection of remakes, Watts delivers seven original compositions among the ten songs that honor people who have influenced and inspired him. Tain & the Ebonix are Watts on drums and percussion, everyman Christian McBride on bass, Marcus Strickland on saxophones and David Kikoski on piano. The ensemble ...

McCoy Tyner: Quartet

by Mark Corroto
November 11, 2007

From the first few notes you know you're going to love this live recording by McCoy Tyner. With a bass line borrowed from John Coltrane's “A Love Supreme (Impulse!, 1964), the quartet doesn't exactly mimic the Coltrane era as much as take inspiration from its legacy. And of course that legacy included Tyner some forty years ago as he, Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison were the rhythm section for the most creative jazz artist ever to advance this music.

Jeff "Tain" Watts: Jazz For The Modern Age

by Jason Crane
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 ...

Tain & the Ebonix: Folk's Songs

by Craig W. Hurst
September 17, 2007

Folk's Songs, led by drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts and his group Tain and the Ebonix, comprises ten compositions, including seven Watts originals all dedicated to various folks. The tunes not composed by Watts are by pianists Keith Jarrett ("Rotation and “Rotation II ) and the late Kenny Kirkland ("Blasphemy ). Specific tune dedications range from other musicians such as Curtis Mayfield, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland and the late Dewey Redman to comedian Dave Chappell, artist Jean Michel Basquiat and all ...

Tain & the Ebonix: Folk's Songs

by Michael P. Gladstone
July 20, 2007

This is the fifth solo album for Jeff “Tain" Watts and broadens his approach on this effort. The drummer has the distinction of reporting that he appeared on every Grammy-Award winning album by Wynton and Branford Marsalis. Originally from Pittsburgh and graduating with a degree in classical percussion from Desquesne University and the Berklee College of Music, Watts has become a well-known face from his appearances with the groups of Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis and the NBC Tonight Show Orchestra, ...

Jeff "Tain" Watts: Dedication

by Jason Crane
June 28, 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 ...

Tain & the Ebonix: Folk's Song

by Russ Musto
May 17, 2007

Jeff “Tain Watts, regarded by many as the most important drummer/leader of his generation, has also proven to be one of the more significant jazz composers to emerge in his time. On Folk's Songs, a date of (predominantly) original compositions dedicated to a diverse collection of artists (and one for the “citizens of earth ), he debuts his band the Ebonix, featuring Christian McBride (basses), Marcus Strickland (saxophones) and David Kikoski (piano and keyboards), with guest appearances by guitarist David ...