Ernie watts frank zappa biography

  • Ernest James Watts (born October 23, 1945) is a Grammy-winning American jazz and R&B saxophonist who plays soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone.
  • Watts has been featured on over 500 recordings by artists ranging from Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa, always exhibiting his unforgettable trademark sound.
  • A veteran studio musician and bandleader, Ernie has had thousands of career highlights such as playing in the Tonight Show band and recording with Marvin Gaye.

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    Ernie Watts: Flying High

    Very few musicians have a resume quite as varied or as impressive as saxophonist Ernie Watts. His musical curiosity and tremendous versatility have led him to perform in contexts as diverse as a TV show grupp, with orchestras, on small and big screen soundtracks, on over five hundred recording sessions which include many of the greatest names in Motown, in duo and in quartet settings as well as in a number of the most distinguished big bands in modern jazz history.



    Over the years, the likes of Thelonious Monk, James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny have all come knocking on the door of one of the most respected of post-Coltrane saxophonists. Doubtless it was the honing of Watts' skills in such varied musical environments which led legendary jazz critic and writer Nat Hentoff to refer to his "total command of his instrument.



    The 2007 release of Analog Man, on his own Flying Dolphin Records label, is further pr

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    The Grand Wazoo

    "Eat That Question" redirects here. For the 2016 Frank Zappa documentary, see Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words.

    1972 studio album by The Mothers

    The Grand Wazoo is the eleventh album by The Mothers, sixteenth overall by Frank Zappa, released in November 1972. It was written and recorded during Zappa's period of convalescence after being assaulted in December 1971 in London, UK.

    Overview

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    Along with its predecessor Waka/Jawaka (July 1972), this album represents Zappa's foray into big band music, the logical progression from Hot Rats (1969) (which used a much smaller lineup). This was the last release on Zappa's own Bizarre Records label.

    Recording and production

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    This was the second Zappa album released in a period where he needed to use a wheelchair. Zappa was unable to tour after being assaulted and pushed offstage into an orchestra pit during a concert on December 10, 1971, at the Rainbow Theatre in London, UK.&#

  • ernie watts frank zappa biography

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    Ernie Watts

    With Billy Alessi and Bobby Alessi

    • Words and Music (A&M, 1979)
    • Long Time Friends (Qwest, 1982)

    With Paul Anka

    • The Music Man (United Artists, 1977)
    • Walk a Fine Line (CBS, 1983)

    With Patti Austin

    With Donald Byrd

    With Christopher Cross

    With Marvin Gaye

    With Charlie Haden

    • Quartet West (Verve, 1987)
    • The Private Collection (Naim, 2000) – rec. 1987–88
    • In Angel City (Verve, 1988)
    • The Montreal Tapes: Liberation Music Orchestra (Verve, 1999) – rec. 1989
    • Haunted Heart (Verve, 1992)
    • Always Say Goodbye (Verve, 1994)
    • Now Is the Hour (Verve, 1996)
    • The Art of the Song (Verve, 1999)
    • Sophisticated Ladies (EmArcy, 2010)

    With Bobby Hutcherson

    With Quincy Jones

    With Carole King

    With Teena Marie

    With Lee Ritenour

    With Boz Scaggs

    With Lalo Schifrin

    With Frankie Valli

    With Deniece Williams

    With Gerald Wilson

    With Bill Withers

    With Betty Wright

    • Betty Wright (Epic, 1981)
    • Wright Back