Jeff Watts, the drummer they call "Tain," spent his formative years with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and his compositional skills now command equal attention. Watts studied classical percussion at Pittsburgh's Duquesne University, where he was primarily a timpanist, followed by enrollment at the Berklee School of Music. He joined the Wynton Marsalis Quartet in 1981 and proceeded to win three GRAMMYS After leaving the Winton Marsalis band in 1988, he worked with George Benson, Harry Connick. Jr. and McCoy Tyner, and the Branford Marsalis Quartet in 1989, winning his fourth GRAMMY.
Watts has appeared as both a musician on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and as an actor in Spike Lee’s "Mo Better Blues". He 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.
Watts has an extensive discography as a side-man, as well as ten albums as a leader. 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. His artistic ingenuity expresses itself in his incomparable technique, sweltering sense of swing, and an extraordinary ability to imbue his music with majestic grace and elegant repose.
A true jazz innovator, Watts never fails to deliver the percussive magic that has been his trademark since his emergence on the contemporary jazz scene.
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