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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZWATSON, Bobby(b 23 Aug. '53, Lawrence KS) Alto and soprano sax, other instruments; composer/arranger. Began arranging for high school concert band, organized dance band and wrote all the music; played with and was mus. dir. for Art Blakey '77--81; the personable soloist, popular with audiences, was not in a big hurry to record as a leader, but worked with Philly Joe Jones's Dameronia, George Coleman Octet, Savoy Sultans etc. With Max Roach he arr. award-winning music for off-Broadway Sam Shepard play Shepard Sets '84; played in 29th Street Saxophone Quartet with Ed Jackson (alto), Rich Rothenberg (tenor), Jim Hartog (baritone): Watch Your Step '85 on Antilles CD and others have been on various labels. Watson's own albums began coming, incl. Perpetual Groove '84 (live in Italy), Appointment In Milano '85 with Italian sidemen, both on Red Records, as are Love Remains '86 with John Hicks, Round Trip and This Little Light Of Mine. Gumbo '83 on Evidence was with Hamiet Bluiett; Beautitudes '84 was on New Note/Hep. The Year Of The Rabbit '87 on New Note had a nonet incl. Hartog, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Washington etc playing a joyful tribute to Johnny Hodges recorded live in NYC. The Inventor by Bobby Watson and Horizon on Blue Note, wrote Clive Davis in The Times, was 'proof that the ''neo-boppers'' can swing with a vengeance', Watson's original 'Heckle And Jeckle' 'at a stunning pace ... over Benny Green's insistent piano motif'. In the '90s there have been Present Tense, Tailor Made and Midwest Shuffle on Columbia, and Urban Renewal on Kokopelli, all with Victor Lewis. |