Saxophonist/Composer BOBBY WATSON to
Release New Album, Check Cashing Day, In Honor
of 50th Anniversary of March on Washington
of 50th Anniversary of March on Washington
on November 26 via Lafiya Music
"Watson has been producing some of jazz's most
optimistic compositions..." - The New York Times
Saxophonist-composer-producer-
As Watson reflects, Check Cashing Day
serves as "a commentary on where we've been, where we are, and where we
need to go as a people, as a country, and as a global community." Instead
of focusing on the iconic "I Have A Dream" aspect of Dr. King's speech,
Watson chose to concentrate on another very significant part: the
reason why over 300,000 people, black and white, gathered in Washington,
D.C. on August 28, 1963. Dr. King spoke of coming to Washington to cash
a 100 year old check, a moral check that the founding fathers wrote
into the Declaration of Independence, but to this day, the check keeps
coming back marked 'insufficient funds.' "This, being the year of my
60th birthday, I sadly understand that Dr. King's dream has not been
fully realized and the struggle continues," says Watson.
Introducing poet and spoken word artist Glenn North from Kansas City, MO, Check Cashing Day
is a concept recording with 15 tracks portrayed in the vein of musical
theatre. "I asked Glenn to put some poetry, from his perspective, to
several of my compositions, as well as one written by vocalist Pamela Baskin-Watson and two by bassist Curtis Lundy," comments Watson. "It was my desire with this project to produce poetry that would in some ways cleanse the soul," notes North. In addition, Watson's release features trumpeter Hermon Mehari, pianist Richard Johnson, drummer Eric Kennedy, flutist Horace Washington, and trombonist Karita Carter.
With Watson's commentary on
the ongoing struggle of todays racial inequalities spotlighted on
compositions such as the title track "Check Cashing Day (For Ms. Trudy)"
and "MLK on Jazz (Love Transforms)," he offers a recording that
provokes positive conversation and continued movement towards Dr. King's
'dream,' so that the 'dream' becomes a reality in today's world. "The
result is something more powerful and thought provoking than I could
have imagined," reflects Watson.
2013 promises to be a
banner year for Watson, reuniting with his critically acclaimed Horizon
quintet for their 30th anniversary as well as celebrating his own 60th
birthday. Boasting a top-notch resume that ranges from his tenure as a
member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (eventually becoming musical
director) to co-founding Horizon with drummer Victor Lewis as an
acoustic quintet modeled after the Jazz Messengers, Watson plans to tour
in 2014 with Horizon for their seminal anniversary. Watson will also
tour with his "I Have a Dream" project in 2014 and is planning several
release performances (to be announced).
About Bobby Watson:
The first "William D. and
Mary Grant/Missouri, Distinguished Professor in Jazz Studies at the UMKC
Conservatory of Music and Dance," saxophonist, composer, producer and
educator, Bobby Watson grew up in Kansas City, Kansas and trained
formally at the University of Miami studying with Dr. Clifton Williams,
receiving a B.M. in Music Theory and Composition in 1975. After
graduating, he proceeded to earn his "doctorate" - on the bandstand -
as musical director of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1977-1981. In
addition to his work as leader of the Grammy® Award-nominated
quintet Horizon, Watson also led a group known as the High Court of
Swing (a tribute to the music of Johnny Hodges), the Grammy® Award-nominated
Tailor-Made Big Band, and is a founding member of the highly acclaimed
29th Street Saxophone Quartet. Watson also wrote original music for the
sound track of Robert DeNiro's directorial debut A Bronx Tale.
Since 2000 he has served as
director of Jazz studies at UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, and is
also, currently Artistic Director for the Thelonious Monk Institute's
"Jazz in America" Informance program, annually presenting dozens of
informational concerts and jazz workshops around the nation. In 2010
Bobby released his self produced CD, The Gates BBQ Suite which went to #4 on the National Jazz airplay charts. In 2011, Bobby was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and in 2013 he received the "Benny Golson Jazz Masters" award from Howard University. To date; Bobby has made 37 recordings as a leader and he appears on over 100 other recordings.
Bobby Watson · Check Cashing Day (Lafiya Music)
Release Dates:
Digital - August 28, 2013
Physical - November 26, 2013
For more information on Bobby Watson, please visit: bobbywatson.com
For more information, please contact:
DL Media · 610-667-0501
Don Lucoff · don@dlmediamusic.com
Matthew Jurasek· matthew@dlmediamusic.com
Information and press materials (including album covers, promotional photos and bios)
on all DL Media Artists can be found at our new website: dlmediamusic.com
