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Bobby Watson

A saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator, Bobby Watson grew up in Kansas City, Kan. He trained formally at the University of Miami, a school with a distinguished and well-respected jazz program. After graduating, he proceeded to earn his "doctorate" – on the bandstand – as musical director of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. The group, created in 1955 by late legendary drummer who died in 1990, showcased a rotating cast of players, many who, like Watson, would go on to have substantial careers as bandleaders in their own right. The Jazz Messengers – frequently referred to as the "University of Blakey" – served as the ultimate "postgraduate school" for ambitious young players.

After completing a four-year-plus Jazz Messengers tenure (1977-1981) that incorporated more than a dozen recordings – the most of any of the great Jazz Messengers, the gifted Watson became a much-sought after musician, working along the way with a potpourri of notable artists – peers, elder statesmen and colleagues all — including, but not limited to: drummers Max Roach and Louis Hayes, fellow saxophonists George Coleman and a younger Branford Marsalis, celebrated multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (who joined the Jazz Messengers at least in part at the suggestion of Watson). In addition to working with a variety of instrumentalists, Watson served in a supporting role for a number of distinguished and stylistically varied vocalists including: Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Lou Rawls, Betty Carter and Carmen Lundy.

Later, in association with bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis, Watson launched the first edition of Horizon, an acoustic quintet modeled in many ways after the Jazz Messengers but one with its own distinct slightly more modern twist. Among the groups' other talented members were pianist Ed Simon, trumpeter TereIl Stafford and bassist Essiet Okon Essiet. Clearly, by all critical accounts, Horizon, which still performs together on special occasions, is now considered as one of the preeminent small groups of the mid-1980s to mid-1990s and even into the 2000s. The group recorded several highly acclaimed titles for the Blue Note and Columbia record labels including Post-Motown Bop (Blue Note) and Midwest Shuffle, Live! (Columbia); the latter is a compendium that captured the group in concert at a number of locations in 1993.

In addition to his work with Horizon, Watson also led a nine-piece group known as the High court of Swing – a tribute to the music of Johnny Hodges – as well as the GRAMMY-nominated 16-piece, large ensemble Tailor Made Big Band. The lyrical stylist is also a founding member of the well-respected 29th Street Saxophone Quartet, an all-horn, four-piece ensemble.

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Interview

Meet Bobby Watson

Read "Meet Bobby Watson" reviewed by Craig Jolley


This article was first published at All About Jazz in October 1999. Background and early career... I started playing clarinet and piano in my grandfather's church. I played saxophone in junior high school: originally tenor and switched to alto when I got to high school. From there I got hip to jazz and tried to do as much as I could. I went to the University of Miami and got a degree in theory and composition. In 1976 ...

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In Pictures

Bobby Watson Birthday Tour at Dolomiti Ski Jazz 2023

Read "Bobby Watson Birthday Tour at Dolomiti Ski Jazz 2023" reviewed by Danilo Codazzi


A collection of photos from the Bobby Watson “Birthday Tour" concert at Dolomiti ski jazz in Castello di Fiemme on March 8, 2023 featuring Bobby Watson, Jordan Williams, Curtis Lundy and Victor Jones. ...

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Album Review

Sylwester Ostrowski: Jammin' With KC

Read "Jammin' With KC" reviewed by Kyle Simpler


Sylwester Ostrowski traveled from his native Poland to jny: Kansas City in February 2020 to participate in a centennial celebration of Charlie Parker's life and music. During the visit, Ostrowski visited Parker's childhood home, his grave, and other historical landmarks. He also sat in with some of Kansas City's finest jazz musicians at several local venues. He got a taste of not only the Kansas City jazz scene but American life and culture as well. While visiting the US, Ostowski ...

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In Pictures

Bobby Watson at the Attucks Jazz Club

Read "Bobby Watson at the Attucks Jazz Club" reviewed by Mark Robbins


From 1977 to 1981, Bobby Watson was a student at the “University of Blakey," otherwise known as the Jazz Messengers led by drummer Art Blakey. After “graduation," Watson went on to become an acclaimed alto saxophonist, sought out by instrumentalist and vocalists alike while he led his own band, Horizon. Now, in addition to a fulltime touring schedule, Watson is the director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance. When Watson ...

350
Album Review

Bobby Watson: The Gates BBQ Suite

Read "The Gates BBQ Suite" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


An esteemed alto saxophonist, Bobby Watson serves up some “down to the bone" goodness in The Gates BBQ Suite. The seven-part suite for large ensemble features the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music & Dance Concert Jazz Orchestra, and is a heartfelt tribute to Watson's hometown of Kansas City--the people, the culture, and tastes, which includes the area's landmark Gates Barbecue restaurant. Watson's big band masterwork epitomizes an illustrious career of more than 25 years, with ...

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Live Review

Bobby Watson at the Saville Theater, San Diego, CA

Read "Bobby Watson at the Saville Theater, San Diego, CA" reviewed by Robert Bush


Bobby Watson Quartet Saville Theater (San Diego City College) San Diego, CA May 11, 2010 Currently based in Kansas City, where he teaches at the University of Missouri/ Conservatory of Music, Bobby Watson has a long, storied career. He attended music school in Miami in the 1970's, where his classmates included Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Mike Stern, and Mark Egan. After leaving school, he joined the legendary Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, serving ...

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Live Review

Kind of Blue Turns 50: Bobby Watson Quartet at the Kimmel Center

Read "Kind of Blue Turns 50: Bobby Watson Quartet at the Kimmel Center" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer


Bobby Watson QuartetJazz Up Close: Kind of Blue Turns 50Honoring Cannonball Adderly and John Coltrane, SaxophonesKimmel Center Perelman TheaterPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaMarch 28, 2009The great Bobby Watson, still in “mid-life" at age 53, is a seasoned “heavy" on the alto sax whose playing echoes saxophone greats from Phil Woods to Cannonball Adderley, as well as tenor titans Dexter Gordon to Sonny Rollins, yet with his own incomparable virtuosity. Something must have been in ...

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Performance / Tour

World-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Begins Spring With Four Of Today’s Leading Pianists, Album Releases By Bobby Watson And Eric Reed, And More Throughout March

World-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Begins Spring With Four Of Today’s Leading Pianists, Album Releases By Bobby Watson And Eric Reed, And More Throughout March

Source: AMT Public Relations

Described as “the most genuine, congenial and best-run jazz club in the city (Huffington Post),” New York’s Smoke Jazz Club presents a stellar line-up of some of jazz’s greatest artists during March. Four leading pianists return to the SMOKE stage: Renee Rosnes (Mar 2-5),Eric Reed celebrating his SMOKE Sessions album release (Mar 9-12), Jacky Terrasson (Mar 16-19), and George Cables (Mar 30-Apr 2). The legendary tenor George Coleman celebrates his 88th birthday with a special one-night-only concert featuring special guest ...

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Music Industry

Sylwester Ostrowski Releases New Song 'Chiefs Kingdom' Featuring Bobby Watson

Sylwester Ostrowski Releases New Song 'Chiefs Kingdom' Featuring Bobby Watson

Source: Cheptoo Kositany

Sylwester Ostrowski, new single “Chiefs Kingdom" featuring Bobby Watson is available on August 28, 2020, under the recording label Agora. Fans can enjoy the music on iTunes, Tidal, and Spotify. “Chiefs Kingdom" is a piece of celebratory and uplifting music honoring Kansas City, its Jazz legacy, and the 2020 Super Bowl Champions, the Chiefs. Ostrowski was in Kansas City for a project celebrating Parker’s Centennial in partnership with Jazz Sister Cities during the championship game in February 2020. Together with ...

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Education

Education and Audiences

Education and Audiences

Source: KCJazzLark By Larry Kopitnik

The educators surprised me. They’re engaged in far more than developing the next KC jazz superstar. They’re introducing children to the music. They’re developing audiences. They’re bringing the best of the best to this city. They’re perpetuating our jazz culture. This is the third week of articles culled from the latest Jam. It’s available available – free! – all over town or can be downloaded as a PDF here. The issue celebrates the thirty years of publication by asking, what ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Peter Martin, Bobby Watson & Angela Hagenbach, Rhys Chatham, and more

Jazz this week: Peter Martin, Bobby Watson & Angela Hagenbach, Rhys Chatham, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week's lineup of jazz and creative music performances in St. Louis includes a rare nightclub appearance by a favorite hometown pianist, several noteworthy touring performers, and a rather eclectic selection of tribute shows. Let's go to the highlights.... Wednesday, May 18 Pianist Peter Martin will lead his trio for the first of two nights at Jazz at the Bistro, the first time he's played the room since it was expanded and renovated in 2014. Martin will be joined by ...

Performance / Tour

The Blue Room On Historic 18th And Vine All-Star Week Line Up

The Blue Room On Historic 18th And Vine All-Star Week Line Up

Source: C. L. Burnett, American Jazz Museum

Kansas City, Mo: To celebrate the All-Star game coming to Kansas City the Blue Room is adding extra shows throughout the extravaganza. The All-Star performances kick off on Thursday July 5th with the Kansas City All-Star Funk Band, Esquire. Friday July 6th the Kansas City All-Star Blues Band will feature Everette DeVan. DeVan has been a pivotal force on the local Kansas City jazz scene and his talents have allowed him to gain international recognition as well. One of the ...

Education

Randy Brecker, Bobby Watson, Jane Monheit, Many More Perform At Usdan Center Beginning June 25

Randy Brecker, Bobby Watson, Jane Monheit, Many More Perform At Usdan Center Beginning June 25

Source: Reva Cooper

Private On-Site Educational Performances at the Center’s 45TH Season Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the Long Island summer arts day camp once again included as a “Best Camp” for 2012 by TimeOutNY/Kids, announces its Festival Concerts lineup for its 45th season. These are a special feature of the Center: private, on-site daily educational performances by distinguished artists for students in Usdan’s 1,000-seat McKinley Amphitheater. Many of the artists will also teach workshops and master classes during the ...

Interview

Ty's Take: Darryl White Quartet Featuring Bobby Watson

Ty's Take: Darryl White Quartet Featuring Bobby Watson

Source: C. L. Burnett, American Jazz Museum

During the Jazz heyday of Kansas City in the 1930’s I would be looked at as such a square for not going to my first Jazz concert until I was 25. And quite frankly after spending Saturday night at the Blue Room I would have to agree. The Darryl White Quartet featuring saxophone legend Bobby Watson put on quite a show that really opened the eyes and ears of this Jazz rookie. White and his quartet played it up for ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Dafnis Prieto, Bobby Watson, New Music Circle Showcase, Denise Thimes with Tom Braxton, and More

Jazz This Week: Dafnis Prieto, Bobby Watson, New Music Circle Showcase, Denise Thimes with Tom Braxton, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

There are several noteworthy jazz and creative music shows happening this weekend in St. Louis, and for once, the schedule lays out so that it's possible to hear all the touring musicians coming through town, provided you've got the stamina and the necessary funds to go out five nights this week. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, drummer Dafnis Prieto (pictured) makes his St. Louis debut and opens a four-night engagement continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. Prieto ...

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Performance / Tour

Bobby Watson to Perform Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 at Robbie's House of Jazz

Bobby Watson to Perform Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 at Robbie's House of Jazz

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Saxophonist Bobby Watson (pictured), once part of the front line of drummer Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and now an elder statesman of the Kansas City jazz scene, is returning to St. Louis to perform at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 at Robbie's House of Jazz. Watson last played St. Louis in December 2009 at Robbie's. In addition to his work with Blakey from 1977 to 1981, he has performed and recorded with many other well-known musicians, ...

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Performance / Tour

"BBQ Suite" Will Get The Full Treatment

"BBQ Suite" Will Get The Full Treatment

Source: David A. Orthmann

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and Bobby Watson will bring the heat to a saucy project. This is no big-band tribute to sounds of the past. The next show by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra is all about now. This time, the KCJO, a powerful alliance of 17 of our town's top musicians, gives free rein to the music of Bobby Watson, the reigning boss of the city's jazz scene. On Friday they will perform his “Gates BBQ Suite" and some ...

Kansas City Area Youth Jazz
band / ensemble / orchestra

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Back Home in Kansas...

Smoke Sessions Records
2023

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Chiefs Kingdom

Agora Music
2020

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Jammin' With KC

Agora Records
2020

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Check Cashing Day

Self Produced
2013

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The Gates BBQ Suite

Self Produced
2011

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The Gates BBQ Suite

Lafiya Music
2010

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Wilkes BBQ

From: From the Heart
By Bobby Watson

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