Steve Watts (musician)
Steve Watts | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 September 1961 Sutton, Surrey, England |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Double Bass / Electric Bass |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
Steve Watts (born 14 September 1961) is a British jazz bass player who was a member of the Loose Tubes big band during the 1980s.[1]
Career
Steve Watts first came to prominence on the UK jazz scene as a bass player in bands with saxophonist Iain Ballamy. He later joined the UK big band Loose Tubes and features on recordings including the live album Arriving.[2] Watts went on to collaborate with many UK jazz musicians including fellow Loose Tubes member Julian Arguelles[3], Billy Jenkins[4] and Christine Tobin[5]. He is a long time associate of US pianist Kirk Lightsey playing in duo, trio and quartet formats.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Watts is a founding member of The Printmakers, a British jazz band featuring Norma Winstone, Nikki Iles, Mark Lockheart, Mike Walker and James Maddren. In 2015 they released album Westerly which was well received [13][14], and The Observer noted that "Every one of them [...] is a leading figure in British contemporary jazz". [15] In a 5-star review London Jazz News declared "there is surely no anchor more solid and creative, for a band with [sic] needs this freedom, than bassist Steve Watts." [16]
Watts teaches on the Guildhall School of Music and Drama jazz instrumental staff[17] and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.[18]
Discography
With Loose Tubes
- Dancing on Frith Street (1989)
- Sad Africa (1989)
- Arriving (2015)
With Iain Ballamy
- Balloon Man (1988)
- All Men Amen (1995)
With Mike Walker
- Ropes (2018)
With Julian Arguelles
- Skull View (Babel, 1997)
- As Above So Below (Provocateur, 2003)
- Escapade (Provocateur, 1999)
With Christine Tobin
- Aliliu
- Yell of the Gazelle
With Billy Jenkins
- Suburbia (Babel, 1999)
With others
- Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone, Mirrors (2013)
- Nikki Iles and Norma Winstone, The Printmakers – Westerly (2015)
References
- ↑ "Jazz on 3 - Loose Tubes". BBC. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ↑ Harris, Selwyn (13 October 2015). "Loose Tubes – Arriving". Jazzwise. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ↑ Longley, Martin (22 March 2004). "As Above So Below Review". BBC. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ↑ Gelly, Dave (3 April 2005). "Billy Jenkins, When the Crowds Have Gone". The Observer. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ↑ May, Chris (2 January 2006). "Christine Tobin: Romancing the Radical". All About Jazz. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ Fordham, John (22 July 2003). "Kirk Lightsey/Bobby Wellins". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Jazz at the Fleece, Boxford, Suffolk". fleecejazz.org.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ Jazz, All About. "“Kirk Lightsey - Steve Watts Duo” by Brian O'Connor - Jazz Photo". All About Jazz Gallery. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ ljazzn (14 November 2017). "REVIEW: Kirk Lightsey Trio at Crazy Coqs (2017 EFG LJF)". London Jazz News. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kirk Lightsey Quartet ft Alex Hitchcock | Pizza Express Live". www.pizzaexpresslive.com. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "KIRK LIGHTSEY QUARTET". Guildford Jazz. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kirk Lightsey Quartet ft Alex Hitchcock". EFG London Jazz Festival. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ Fordham, John (7 May 2015). "The Printmakers: Westerly review – American cool to rural England". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ↑ Larkin, Cormac (29 May 2015). "The Printmakers: Westerly Album Review". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ↑ Gelly, Dave (17 May 2015). "The Printmakers: Westerly review – evocative pictures in sound". The Observer Newspaper. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ↑ "Review: Nikki Iles -The Printmakers". London Jazz News. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ↑ "Jazz Department Staff | Guildhall School of Music & Drama". www.gsmd.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Staff A-Z". Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Retrieved 29 November 2025.