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Watters Brothers
Trumpeter Ken Watters and trombonist Harry Watters are Summit recording artists and Conn-Selmer (Bach) Performing Artists. Being trumpet & trombone playing siblings, Ken & Harry have an onstage rapport that is electrifying to audiences.
Their last three CDs for Summit Records (Brothers, Brothers II & Brothers III) climbed to the top 50 on the US jazz charts where they remained for at least six weeks each - Brothers III for 11 weeks - and are continually receiving airplay across the US, Canada, Australia, Europe & parts of the Far East. Their music has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, NPR's Jazz South program, PRI's Jazz After Hours (hosted by Jim Wilke) & has been used on a feature television documentary by The Freedom Forum (Washington, DC).
Below is a sampling of artists they have performed and/or recorded with (together & individually): Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Greg Allman, Marc Anthony, Army Blues, Deniece Williams, Kelis, Brad Mehldau, Larry Goldings, Al Hirt, Kevin Mahogany, Erich Kunzel, James Moody, Pete Fountain, Philip Harper, Russell Malone, Chris Potter, Arturo Sandoval, Reginald Policard, Carl Fontana, Steve Coleman, Bill Watrous, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Jean Luc Guanel, Bobby "Blue" Bland, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Terry Gibbs, Mundell Lowe, Ravi Coltrane, Mingus Big Band, Toshiko Akiyoshi, The Vanguard Orchestra (Village Vanguard, NYC), Roger Hawkins, Fred Wesley, Roland Vazquez, Harry Connick Jr., Mike Stern, Richie Cole, Tommy Talton, Dave Valentin, Anthony Jackson, Dan Penn, David Liebman, Eartha Kitt, Rick Hall, Peter Bernstein, The Fifth Dimension, Herbie Mann, Petula Clarke, Gregory Hutchinson, Tabou Combo, The Platters, Little Milton, Marilyn McCoo, Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Hall, Clarence Carter, Russell Malone, Bonnie Bramlett, Billy Swann, Randy Brecker & many more. All of their CDs are released internationally on Summit Records & distributed by Allegro Corporation.
Featured on their first CD (Brothers) are pianist Kenny Werner, bassist Scott Colley & drummer Scott Neumann.
Their second CD (Brothers II) features pianist David Marlow, bassist Roy Yarbrough, drummer Jay Frederick, guitarist Tom Wolfe & pianist John Miller. Southern Exposure, the Summit Records debut CD by Ken Watters Group, features David Marlow, Roy Yarbrough, Jay Frederick & special guest saxophonist & Palmetto Recording Artist Joel Frahm.
All Watters' recordings for Summit Records are produced by Southern music legend Johnny Sandlin (Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Cher, Marshall Tucker, Dixie Dregs, Colonel Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit, etc) & all Watters CDs have spent time in the top 50 on the US jazz charts.
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Ken and Harry Watters: Brothers III
by C. Michael Bailey
While his brother Harry was serving in the armed forces, Ken Watters produced the exceptional Southern Exposure . Now Harry is back and Brothers III has crested the horizon. Brothers and Brothers II established the trumpet/trombone front line in the band, characterized buy a fluid, vibrato-less tone. This gives the group a shimmering sound that is at once plush and edgy. The most of the tunes are originals and are rhythmically challenging without being unlistenable. Harry comes back with fine ...
read moreKen & Harry Watters: Brothers III
by Jim Santella
Their most adventurous album to date places the Watters brothers in a position to lead. Today’s jazz world contains many directions all at the same time, and its umbrella continues to grow. However, the spirit that drove Buddy Bolden will not fade.
Ken & Harry Watters ensure that tradition remains a clear and central part of their plan. Their compositions contain the foundation that has served jazz for over a century. Syncopation, improvised expression, exotic impressions, and plaintive cries weave ...
read moreThe Ken Watters Group: Southern Exposure
by Jack Bowers
Southern Exposure is trumpeter Ken Watters' first recording for Summit without his brother, trombonist Harry, in the starting lineup, but Ken has found an able replacement on the front line in friend and former Big Apple roommate Joel Frahm. Frahm is a fast""rising post""bop saxophonist, and it's a pity he's not used more often; as it is, he's heard only on Watters' compositions “April Third (tenor) and “Pathfinder (soprano) and the Allman Brothers' “Jessica (again on soprano). Watters makes up ...
read moreKen Watters Group: Southern Exposure
by C. Michael Bailey
Sans Brother Harry, Trumpeter Ken Watters steps out with his working quartet and burns his way through a collection of originals, standards, and some surprises.
After two recordings with trombonist brother Harry, Trumpeter Ken Watters brings his working quartet into the studio, where he produces his strongest musical statement yet. The previous Watters' offerings, Brothers (Summit 234) and Brothers II (Summit 266), made with brother Harry, revealed Ken Watters as a composer and arranger of great depth, breadth, and sense ...
read moreKen Watters Group: Southern Exposure
by Dave Nathan
P>Ken Watters third album for Summit is with his regular working quartet and provides a play list of standards , jazz tunes, including a couple of originals, and rock stuff adapted for a small jazz group. The result is a mixed bag in terms of the effect upon the ear. A quiet introspective “Fire & Rain" makes this song sound better than it should with lovely back and forth between Watters and David Marlow's piano along with Jay Frederick's shuffling ...
read moreKen Watters Group: Southern Exposure
by Jim Santella
If you were expecting “Way Down upon the Swanee River," forget it. Like his first two albums with brother Harry, trumpeter Ken Watters has put together a session of post-bop material that reflects his New York City dues-payin' background.
Watters is from Alabama. This same quartet appeared on last year's Brothers II (Summit), with trombonist Harry Watters. A cohesive unit, this is Ken Watters' working group. They interpret each piece with an in-depth understanding. Watters, who plays flugelhorn on half ...
read moreKen Watters Group: Southern Exposure
by Jim Santella
If you were expecting “Way Down upon the Swanee River," forget it. Like his first two albums with brother Harry, trumpeter Ken Watters has put together a session of post-bop material that reflects his New York City dues-payin' background.
Watters is from Alabama. This same quartet appeared on last year's Brothers II (Summit), with trombonist Harry Watters. A cohesive unit, this is Ken Watters' working group. They interpret each piece with an in-depth understanding. Watters, who plays flugelhorn on half ...
read moreWatters Brothers (Ken & Harry Watters) Sign on as Newest Jupiter Artists
Source:
All About Jazz
AUSTIN, TEXAS October 29, 2008 Musicians and brothers, Harry and Ken Watters, have signed on as artists and clinicians for Jupiter. Playing the trombone and trumpet, respectively, the Watters brothers are key educators who will provide clinics at schools and universities with a portion of their fee paid by Jupiter through the artist program. They are frequently asked to perform guest solos with ensembles, including winds, jazz, and orchestra. “It is truly an honor to be a member of the ...
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Watters Brothers to Record Live CD
Source:
All About Jazz
Trumpet & trombone playing brothers Ken & Harry Watters will record a live CD in the next few months (exact dates to be announced).
The new CD will feature the Watters Brothers with lots of special guests, including Kevin Bales (piano), Neal Starkey and Robert Dig" Dickson (acoustic bass), Justin Varnes and Jay Frederick (drums), and Tom Wolfe (guitar). Recording will take place in the fall of 2006 at a venue TBA in the Atlanta area.
Ken & Harry Watters ...
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Watters Brothers Quintet Upcoming Concerts, June 24 and 25
Source:
All About Jazz
On June 24 (7:30PM) & June 25 (3PM), the Watters Brothers Quintet will perform two concerts at University of Alabama in Huntsville's Roberts Hall. These performances will benefit the UAH Harry H. Watters Sr. Scholarship for Excellence in Jazz. Regular members of their working quintet are Kevin Bales (piano), Neal Starkey (acoustic bass), Justin Varnes (drums), Harry Watters (trombone) & Ken Watters (trumpet). Ken & Harry Watters have three CDs released internationally on Summit Records (Brothers, Brothers II & Brothers ...
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"Brothers Ken & Harry Watters are a class act. Superb musicianship, sparkling treatments of Twentieth Century classics, and exceptional original compositions. Their recordings are splendid & extremely gratifying — highly recommended." - Amazon.com
“Ken Watters is without a doubt one of the finest trumpet and flugelhorn performers in jazz today as well as one of the leading composers. Each solo performance is both impeccable and full of energy.” - The Jazz Review
Primary Instrument
Trumpet
Clinic/Workshop Information
We conduct several different clinic options: 1) "Effective Practice Techniques for All Instruments" 2) "Jazz Musicians' Protocol" (for more advanced students to professionals) 3) "General Jazz Improvisation (including recommended listening, etc...)" 4) "The Art of Playing in a Horn Section, from Small-Scale to Big Band"
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Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
