aaamusic | On 08, Apr 2012

He has been in the business for over 50 years and featured on over 500 recordings. He has recorded and toured with an astonishing array of artists from Buddy Rich, Cannonball Adderley, Sun Ra, Oliver Nelson and Pat Metheny to Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan and Frank Zappa. Without doubt he is one of music’s most versatile and prolific saxophone players, always exhibiting his unforgettable trademark sound.

Known for his warm signature tone and passionate improvisation, the two time Grammy Award winning saxophonist Ernie Watts has played in London many times, most recently supporting the crème de la crème – Charlie Haden and Kurt Elling. Yet he now returns to Ronnie Scott’s leading his own quartet for his second Ronnie’s performance as headline.

For two nights (May 7th and 8th 2012) of high-energy jazz, Watts performs music from his latest recording, Oasis, soaring over airtight arrangements in the comfort of his own longtime quartet. The recording is a mix of six originals (three from Watts, and two from quartet members) plus covers including the Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie bebop classic, Shaw Nuff, sublime ballads by Johnny Mandel and Joe Sample alongside Lennon/McCartney’s Blackbird plus Watt’s major inspiration, John Coltrane is represented by Crescent.

Watts is joined with the team who have been touring and recording with him for over ten years; Christof Saenger on piano, Heinrich Koebberling on drums and Rudi Engel on acoustic bass.

“Unlike the Coltrane clones… he has kept his own personality in tact… there is a rare element of tenderness in his soloing….there is no mistaking the joyousness of the ensemble work, the musicians evoking the mischievous spirit of Dizzy Gillespie.” – The Times

Oasis is out now on Flying Dolphin Records.

7th and 8th May 2012
Doors: 6pm
Ticket Price: £20 – £35

Ronnie Scott’s
47 Frith Street, Soho, W1
www.ronniescotts.co.uk