Born: July 2, 1941 Primary Instrument: Drums
Over the past two decades The Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts, has been able to pursue his passion for jazz, playing in a variety of settings whenever he wasn't otherwise engaged with the “World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band.”
In 1985, he formed a big band and toured the States, ultimately releasing Live at Fulham Town Hall on the Sony label. In 1991, he formed a small group to pay homage to the music that first grabbed him while growing up in London. In a span of five years, The Charlie Watts Quintet released a series of stellar recordings -- From One Charlie, Tribute To Charlie Parker, Warm And Tender and Long Ago And Far Away.
Next came Charlie's heartfelt collaboration with Jim Keltner, The Charlie Watts / Jim Keltner Project, in tribute to their favorite drummers with each track titled after a different hero. Now we have Charlie's Tentet as recorded live at the legendary Ronnie Scott's in London on Watts at Scott's.
Warmth, joy, and virtuosity of this dream team of jazz masters as they perform live on two full CDs, a diverse collection of compositions from the likes of Duke Ellington and Thelonius Monk to originals from the Tentet themselves including Gerard Presencer's take on the Glimmer Twins in “Faction”, to two tracks culled from the aforementioned Watts / Keltner Project.
Since 2009 Charlie enjoys playing lots of live gigs all over Europe with his childhood friend Dave Green
Dave Green
b.1942
on double bass and Boogie-Woogie and Blues pianists Axel Zwingenberger
Axel Zwingenberger
b.1955
piano
and Ben Waters. The name of this new band refers to their first names: The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie.
The Magic of Boogie Woogie
Vagabond records
2010
Tracks: Shepperton Strut; Lagonda Ride; Heathrow Jet; Windson Park Walk; High Barn Stampede; Blues, Indeed; Honky tonk Train Blues; V-Disc Stomp; Smashingly Blue; Second Line Bouce; Bass Gonin' Crazy; Careless Love Blues; Boogie Train Mystique; Lady Be Good; Boogie Asado; How Long Blues; Boogie Woogie Rhythm Shop; Sympathy For The Drummer; Farewell Smile.
Personnel: Axel Zwingenberger: piano.
Dave Green: bass.
Charlie Watts: drums.
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