ernie watts

biography | discography | awards

"...an intense and masterful jazz improviser who has developed his own sheets of sound approach along with a distinctive and soulful sound. Ernie Watts has developed into one of the most powerful of tenormen with complete control over his horn and the ability to bring intensity and passion (plus taste) to any musical situation." Scott Yanow/All Music Guide Two-time Grammy Award winner Ernie Watts is one of the most versatile and prolific saxophone players on the music scene. In a diverse career that has spanned more than thirty years, he has been featured on more than 500 recordings by artists ranging from Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa, always exhibiting his unforgettable trademark sound. Watts started playing saxophone at age 13. His discipline combined with natural talent began to shape his life. He won a scholarship to the Wilmington Music School in Delaware, where he studied classical music and technique. "When I first heard John Coltrane play, it was like someone put my hand into a light socket," Watts says. He started to learn jazz by ear, often falling asleep at night listening to a stack of Coltrane records. He soon won a Downbeat Scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, renowned for jazz. When Gene Quill left Buddy Rich's Big Band, trombonist Phil Wilson (an educator at Berklee), was asked to recommend a replacement; a young Ernie Watts got the job. He left Berklee for that important spot, staying with Rich from 1966-1968, touring the world. Watts then moved to Los Angeles and began working in the big bands of Gerald Wilson and Oliver Nelson. It was with Oliver Nelson that Watts had the occasion to record with the legendary Thelonious Monk on Monk's Blues (Columbia). In 1983, the film composer Michel Colombier wrote an orchestral piece entitled "Nightbird" for Watts. At the work's inaugural performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles Charlie Haden came backstage to introduce himself. The meeting led to Watts performing with Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, and to tours with Pat Metheny"s Special Quartet, which included Haden. Watts" charter membership in Haden"s critically acclaimed Quartet West, (with whom he has toured and recorded for nearly twenty years), and his body of work for the audiophile Japanese label JVC Music continued to demonstrate his talent and commitment to the jazz world. A typical year finds Watts touring Europe with his own quartet, in Asia as a featured guest artist and performing at summer festivals throughout North America and Europe. A skilled educator, he continues his commitment to music education by conducting student workshops and has compiled a collection of orchestral arrangements for guest soloist appearances with symphonies. For more information check out www.erniewatts.com. discography: Planet Love Ernie Watts Pacific Jazz Come Together Ernie Watts with Richard "Groove" Holmes Pacific Jazz The Wonder Bag Ernie Watts Encounter Vault Look In Your Heart Ernie Watts Elektra Chariots Of Fire Ernie Watts Qwest/Warner Brothers Musican Ernie Watts Qwest/Warner Brothers Sanctuary Ernie Watts Qwest/Warner Brothers The Ernie Watts Quartet The Ernie Watts Quartet JVC Music Ernie Watts W/Gamalon Ernie Watts W/Gamalon Amherst Afoxe' Ernie Watts W/Gilberto Gil CTI Stand Up Ernie Watts Odyssey Reaching Up Ernie Watts JVC Music Unity Ernie Watts JVC Music The Long Road Home Ernie Watts JVC Music Classic Moods Ernie Watts JVC Music Reflections Ernie Watts & Ron Feuer Adventure Productions ALIVE Ernie Watts Quartet Flying Dolphin Spirit Song Ernie Watts Quartet Flying Dolphin awards GRAMMY AWARDS 1983 -- BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL FOR CHARIOTS OF FIRE 1985 -- BEST RHYTHM AND BLUES INSTRUMENTAL FOR MUSICAN (WB)