Laura Kahle

Watts Family Reunion Band

Tain and I started a 16 piece band that is performing next weekend (Jan 19-20) at the Jazz Standard NYC. All of the arrangements are mine…mostly Tain’s music with a few by Kenny Kirkland, Michael Brecker and myself. The band is outstanding!!

Double review in the August issue of Downbeat Magazine

In the news…

Here are some recent reviews of Circular:

Downbeat Magazine By Ken Micallef

JazzTimes Magazine By Bill Milkowski

The Australian By John McBeath

Available now…iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby & Dark Key Music

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circular

My cd CIRCULAR is released April 19 on the Dark Key Music label. Featuring Yosvany Terry, JD Allen, Orlando le Fleming and Jeff Tain Watts, with special guests Claudia Acuña and Monte Croft.

Here is a preview track….Sweets

Music will be available on iTunes, CDBaby.com, Amazon.com, EMusic and more!

darkkeymusic.com

The NYFA Collection

My composition “Daize” has been included in the 5 cd set release “The NYFA Collection” 25 Years of New York Music. released this month by Innova Recordings.

The multiple discs feature works by 52 composers, all of whom are NYFA Fellows. The whole set is only $30 and you can buy the tracks on iTunes also. The performance of my piece is by; Laura Kahle- pocket trumpet, Yosvany Terry- alto sax, JD Allen- tenor sax, Orlando le Fleming- bass, Jeff “Tain” Watts- drums. Enjoy!

innova.mu

Music that has influenced me…

Sketches of Spain - Miles Davis & Gil Evans

Plantation Lullabies - Meshell Ndegeocello

A Love Supreme - John Coltrane

There’s a Riot Goin’ On - Sly & the Family Stone

Black Saint & the Sinner Lady - Charles Mingus

The Far East Suite - Duke Ellington

Fulfillingness’ First Finale - Stevie Wonder

The Shape of Jazz to Come - Ornette Coleman

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My arrangement of Michael Brecker’s “Two Blocks From The Edge” recorded by the Danish Radio Big Band featuring Jeff Tain Watts in 2009. I’m really proud of this arrangement and the band nailed it!

DR Big Band

Here is a link to preview and buy the cd “The Impaler” recorded by The DR Big Band featuring Jeff “Tain” Watts in 2009. I arranged 5 of the tracks: “Return of the Jitney Man”, “Blutain”, “PAEN”, “Two Blocks from the Edge” and “The Impaler”.

The Impaler

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My composition Lighter Skies featuring vocalist Kristin Berardi. Released in 2004 on the cd Downstream & in 2009 on The What - Definition Part II from Bagpak Records.