Blue Volume 1 by Jeff Tain Watts, review by John McBeath, courtesy of the Australian
These nine tracks feature groups of varying size and instrumentation led by US drummer Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and recorded in the drummer’s home state, Pennsylvania. Best known for his 24 year long association, until 2009, with the Brandford Marsalis Quartet, Watts has played with a wide range of top names including, Michael Brecker, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Wynton Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, and won many awards including six Grammys.
Watts writes most of the material for the recordings on his own label, Dark Key Music, and has penned six of the tracks. One of the exceptions is the opener, Thelonious Monk’s Brilliant Corners arranged in altering tempos by Watts for a quartet with saxophonist Troy Roberts, pianist David Budway, and bassist Neale Caine. Beginning with a heavy backbeat the opening track slides into a slow, bluesy phase with smart tenor work from Roberts and continues alternating tempos for Robert’s thoughtfully swinging phrases, giving way to equally robust piano sequences, and always with Watts’s energising rhythms.
Farley Strange brings on an octet plus seven vocalists, including Watts’s wife Laura. This mix of voices starts up mentioning ‘Gumbo’ – a New Orleans dish and type of blues marching music – before launching a version of the music complete with tuba, vocal choruses, solos, and a driving beat from Watts.
The closer reverts to the opening quartet for another Watts composition, Reverie a slow ballad with lyrical work from Roberts’s tenor, pensive piano, and Watts working the brushes to great effect.
Hi John
Nice review of Blue. You realise tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts is from Perth
Cheers
GL