JEFF “TAIN” WATTS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Jeff “Tain” Watts – drums
Paul Bollenback – guitar
James Francies – piano
Chris Smith – bass
Gary Thomas – tenor saxophone

Jeff “Tain” Watts is one of the most in demand jazz drummers in the world today. Jeff Watts majored in classical percussion at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University, where he was primarily a timpanist, followed by enrollment at the Berklee School of Music, where he pursued jazz studies alongside such talented players as 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. 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. Jeff has worked 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”. Jeff joined Kenny Garrett’s band after returning to New York in 1995 after three years in LA on the Tonight Show.

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.

Paul Bollenback is a jazz guitarist who has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Joan Rivers, and Good Morning America. He has performed with Scott Ambush, Charlie Byrd, Joey DeFrancesco, Herb Ellis, Della Reese, Arturo Sandoval, and Stanley Turrentine.

Plenty of young musicians show promise, but very few enjoy the sort of meteoric rise that pianist, keyboardist and composer James Francies is currently experiencing. At only 27, he’s played with jazz headliners like Pat Metheny, Chris Potter, Stefon Harris, Eric Harland, and Terrace Martin, and racked up equally impressive credits in hip-hop and R&B: from shows with Ms. Lauryn Hill, José James, Common, and NAS, to studio time for Chance the Rapper’s Grammy-winning hit “No Problem”, Mark Ronson , Childish Gambino, YEBBA, Drake, and Kodak Black, to appearances with The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon alongside his mentor and friend Questlove.

Chris Smith is a bass player, whose played music professionally for over 25 years. Whether it be electric/upright bass, vocals, or guitar, contributing to the roots music scene is his goal as a performer, song writer and session player.

Gary Thomas, widely acknowledged as one of the best saxophone players in the world, established himself in the 1980s as one of the most jarring soloists of his generation. Thomas has worked with John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Jim Hall, Dave Holland, Wayne Shorter, Ravi Coltrane, Cassandra Wilson, Wallace Roney, Miles Davis, Steve Coleman, as well as numerous other premier jazz musicians. He also served as Director of Jazz Studies at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore.

Showtimes: Friday & Saturday ~ 7:00pm | 9:30pm

Stream @ 7:00pm Only ~ $10.00