Charlie Watts Prepares Next Jazz CD

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts (pictured) will release his next jazz effort, a two-disc live album titled Watts at Scott’s, on August 24, 2004. The album, recorded at the popular London jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, showcases Watts’ work with his Tentet.

Watts at Scott’s offers a wide-ranging selection of classics like “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Duke Ellington,” “Main Stem,” “Miles Davis,” “Little Willie Leap” and Thelonious Monk’s “Bemsha Swing.” Watts own “Elvin Suite” and “Airto,” which were initially recorded in 2000 with Jim Keltner as an homage to Watts’ favorite percussionists and appear on the album Charlie Watts/Jim Keltner Project, have been reworked for the Tentet. “Faction & Introduction,” a jazz interpretation of the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction,” is also included as an homage to Watts’ rock band.

Watts, well-known for his role in the Rolling Stones, performs jazz with his 10-piece jazz band whenever he is not playing rock ‘n’ roll. In 1985 Watts formed a jazz band and began playing shows worldwide. He later formed the Charlie Watts Quintet, which released four critically acclaimed albums.

Watts’ Tentet includes Dave Green on bass, Anthony Kerr on vibraphone, Brian Lemon on piano, Luis Jardim on percussion, Peter King on alto saxophone, Julian Arguelles on tenor saxophone, Mark Nightingale on trombone, Alan Barnes on baritone saxophone, and Gerard Presencer and Henry Lowther on trumpet and flugelhorn.

Watts at Scott’s will be released on Sanctuary Records.

Originally Published June 14, 2004