Bobby Watson

by Scott YanowBobby Watson has long been one of the top altoists in jazz, a flexible player able to play swing (he once recorded a tribute to Johnny Hodges), hard bop, and free jazz. He started playing the alto when he was 13, and was soon arranging and composing for his school bands. After graduating from the University of Miami in 1975, Watson moved to New York, hitting the big time by joining (and soon becoming the musical director of) Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers during 1977-1981, participating in what were Wynton Marsalis first recordings. In the 1980s, Watson co-led groups with Curtis Lundy (with whom he formed the New Note label) and played with the George Coleman Octet, Charlie Persips big band, Louis Hayes, Sam Rivers, Dameronia, the 29th Street Saxophone Quartet, and the Savoy Sultans; quite a wide range of jazz styles. Watson also began leading his own regular bands in the mid-80s, and the following decade he headed a regular hard bop quintet known as Horizon. His many recordings (for Enja, Red, New Note, Blue Note, Evidence, Columbia, and Kokopelli) are always stimulating and worth investigating.