EFG London Jazz Festival 2018

Jeff Watts Trio

with special guest Kurt Rosenwinkel

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Tuesday 20 th November 2018

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

One of the world's great drummers, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, is joined by celebrated guitarist, Kurt Rosenwinkel in a UK exclusive at PizzaExpress Jazz Club. Jeff Watts, the drummer they call "Tain," spent his formative years with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and his compositional skills now command equal attention. 

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“Kurt is a genius – he really is.”

Eric Clapton

Jeff initially majored in classical percussion at Pittsburgh's Duquesne University, where he was primarily a timpanist, followed by enrollment at the Berklee School of Music. Jeff joined the Wynton Marsalis Quartet in 1981 and proceeded to win three Grammy Awards with the ensemble for 'Black Codes From The Underground', 'J Mood' and 'Marsalis Standard Time'.

Watts left Wynton Marsalis in 1988. After working with George Benson, Harry Connick. Jr. and McCoy Tyner, he joined the Branford Marsalis Quartet in 1989, winning Grammy's for 'I Heard You Twice the First Time' and 'Contemporary Jazz'. Jeff joined Kenny Garrett's band after returning to New York in 1995 and continued to record and tour with Branford Marsalis as well as Danilo Perez, Michael Brecker, Betty Carter, Kenny Kirkland, Courtney Pine, Geri Allen, Alice Coltrane, Greg Osby, McCoy Tyner, Steve Coleman, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Harry Connick Jr, and Ravi Coltrane. Jeff has an extensive discography as a side-man, as well as ten albums as a leader.

Jeff is a 2017 Guggenheim Fellow in the field of music Composition. He has twiced been voted 'Best Drummer' by Modern Drummer Magazine. Along with explosive power, blinding speed and mastery of complex rhythms and time signatures, Watts brings a rare sense of elegance, tried-by-fire composure, and a gritty street funk to his music. For this UK exclusive, Jeff Watts Trio features celebrated guitarist, Kurt Rosenwinkel. Kurt, needs no introduction in jazz circles – a master and preeminent international jazz guitarist/composer.

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