Jazz Articles about Jeff Tain Watts

like 360

Jeff "Tain" Watts: Citizen Tain

by AAJ Staff
January 20, 2003

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 band mate (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 ...

like 112

Mike Pope: The Lay of the Land

by Phil DiPietro
November 15, 2002

Mike Pope plays a mean piano. He's also a noted inventor, designing and building pre-amps for the boutique bass builders Fodera. But really he's a bassist; and not surprisingly, a skilled, er... pontif--icator on both electric and acoustic. He's also a fine mainstream jazz composer and has assembled an all-star cast of musicians here, including heavy hitters the Brecker Brothers, Mike Stern, Joe Locke, Jeff “Tain" Watts and his doubling double John Patitucci to assist in expressing his vision. Bloomdaddy ...

like 214

Jeff "Tain" Watts: Bar Talk

by Jim Santella
September 11, 2002

Propelling his modern mainstream ensemble with clarity, through rigorous action, drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts combines free form humor with swinging rhythms. Complex patterns mingle with delicate waves of motion. For his second Columbia recording as a leader, Watts returns to the studio with a familiar band. As a result of his firm leadership and thoughtful planning, they've brewed up a storm.

Born January 20, 1960 in Pittsburgh, Watts majored in classical percussion at Duquesne University's School of Music. ...

like 389

Jeff "Tain" Watts: Bar Talk

by Paul West
July 4, 2002

Now here’s a guy (and a group) that can play: Jeff “Tain” Watts, who is quite simply one hell of a drummer, is an artist growing in popularity but building impressive skill and power after having served as a supporting player for the likes of such prominent jazz masters as pianist McCoy Tyner and guitarist George Benson. In the terrific Bar Talk , working with Ravi Coltrane (tenor), David Budway (piano), James Genus (bass), Paul Bollenback (guitar) and Gregoire Maret ...

like 138

T.K. Blue: Eyes of the Elders

by James Nichols
May 1, 2001

Saxophonist and flutist T.K. Blue, the artist formerly known as Talib Kibwe, continues to evolve his own brand of post-bop on Eyes of the Elders, his second release as a leader for Arkadia Jazz. Despite the pretentious title, this album contains some worthy performances by a cadre of jazz veterans and young lions. Though T.K. Blue fits the ubiquitous description of the contemporary jazzer infatuated with jazz tradition, he actually spent years paying his dues with jazz veterans including Abdullah ...

like 161

T.K. Blue: Eyes Of The Elders

by AAJ Staff
February 1, 2001

When he was the artist known as Talib Qadir Kibwe, T.K. Blue spent a good many years as Randy Weston's musical director, and he performed on some of Weston's now-classic recordings with Melba Liston like The Spirits Of Our Ancestors and Volcano Blues. Previously, Kibwe lived in Paris for eight years after a three-year association with Abdullah Ibrahim in the late 1970's. Journeying to Africa from his Paris base throughout the 1980's, Kibwe delved deeper and deeper into the spiritual ...

like 193

Jeff "Tain" Watts: Citizen Tain

by David Adler
October 1, 1999

In the mid 80s a single record got me hooked on straight-ahead jazz, and that record was Wynton Marsalis’s Black Codes from the Underground. The powerhouse drumming of Jeff “Tain" Watts was one of the elements that floored me. Watts remains a pillar of the current scene, playing in Branford Marsalis’s brilliant quartet and doing fine work for Michael Brecker, Kenny Garrett, Dave Holland, and others. Citizen Tain is his debut as a leader.The disc opens with “The ...