Ernie Watts
Ernest James " Ernie " Watts ( born October 23, 1945 in Norfolk ( Virginia)) is an American jazz saxophonist and flutist.
Life and work
Watts began with 13 years playing the saxophone, influenced by John Coltrane play on " Kind of Blue ". He started on the West Chester University to study music education, but then received a scholarship from the downbeat for the Berklee College of Music. He plays soprano, alto and tenor saxophone and flute. He has, however, made primarily as a tenor saxophonist name.
In 1966 he began in the big band of Buddy Rich to work. In 1968 he moved to Los Angeles, where he played with Gerald Wilson and later with Oliver Nelson, with whom he undertook a tour of Africa. During the next few years he worked as a studio musician. In Watts musical Vita emerge sounding names like Thelonious Monk, Aretha Franklin, Pat Metheny, Sun Ra and Frank Zappa and Jean -Luc Ponty. Miles Davis he accompanied in the eighties on his last world tour; In 1981, he was with the Rolling Stones on tour.
Watts is a longstanding member of Charlie Haden Quartet West ( with Haden ( bass), Alan Broadbent (piano) and Larance Marable (drums) ), with whom he recorded several CDs ( and Others Quartet West, Haunted Hearts, Now is the Hour and Always Say Goodbye ) and made him known to a wider public. In addition, he also worked in Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra and with Kerem Görsev.
Under his own name he took on albums with, inter alia, Jack DeJohnette, Arturo Sandoval and Eddie Gomez. Its European quartet consists of Christof Sänger, Rudi Engel and Henry Köbberling. In 2004 he entered Germany on with guitarist Lee Ritenour.
Total Watts has been involved in over 500 productions and is today regarded as one of the most experienced saxophonist. He is a two -time Grammy award winner. Ernie Watts was also involved in the recording of the film music for The Color Purple, Ghostbusters - Ghostbusters, Tootsie and Fame - involved The path to glory.
As the official representative of the company Keilwerth Watts plays Saxophone Julius Keilwerth.
2014 Watts was awarded the Frankfurt Music Prize.
Discography (selection)
As Leader
- Four Plus Four ( Flying Dolphin Records, 2009)
- Spirit Song ( Flying Dolphin Records, 2005)
- Analog Man ( Flying Dolphin Records, 2007)
- Classic Moods, 1998, JVC
- The Long Road Home, 1996, JVC
- Unity, 1995, JVC
- Reaching Up, 1994, JMI
- Afoxé, with Gilberto Gil, 1991, CTI Records
- Project Activation Earth, 1989, Amherst Records
- The Ernie Watts Quartet, 1991, JVC, with Joel DiBartolo
- Chariots Of Fire, 1982, Qwest Records
Various
- Quincy Jones, The Dude
- Gladys Knight & The Pips, Life
- Dave Mason Mariposa de Oro
- Paul McCartney Pipes Of Peace
- James Taylor In The Pocket
- Dionne Warwick Hot! Live And Otherwise