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Jeff “Tain” Watts was born on January 20, 1960 and initially studied classical percussion at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University, where he was primarily a timpanist. This he followed by enrollment at the Berklee School of Music, where he pursued jazz studies alongside Branford Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks, Greg Osby, Aimee Mann, Steve Vai and Marvin “Smitty” Smith.

Jeff joined the Wynton Marsalis Quartet in 1981 and proceeded to win three Grammy Awards with the ensemble. Leaving Wynton Marsalis in 1988 work followed with George Benson, Harry Connick, Jr. and McCoy Tyner; prior to joining the Branford Marsalis Quartet in 1989.A move to Los Angeles, California for three years had him working in the film and television industry as both a musician on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and as an actor, Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee’s “Mo Better Blues”.

Returning to New York in ’95, Jeff joined Kenny Garrett’s band and also 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, Michael Brecker, Greg Osby, Steve Coleman, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ravi Coltrane, George Cables and McCoy Tyner.

Jeff “Tain” Watts got his nickname from Kenny Kirkland while on tour in Florida and past a Chieftain gas station. He has won a Best Instrumental Solo Grammy for “Dark Key Music” in 2010 and also holds the unique distinction of being the only musician to appear on every Grammy Award winning jazz record by both Wynton and Branford Marsalis. As a composer, Watts is a creative and innovative force in modern jazz, contributing most of the compositions on his own albums.

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