"He is one of the greatest living tenor saxophonists, at the top of his game.
- Ian Patterson, All About Jazz
"The celebrated young lions of jazz may have daunting power and speed, but few of them have what tenor saxophonist Watts has honed to perfection; phrasing as natural as falling water and a sound that is at once steeped in tradition and wholly unique.” - People Magazine
Legendary musician Ernie Watts is bringing his band members from LA and Seattle to THE 222 in Healdsburg for two exclusive performances Saturday, October 23, and Sunday, October 24. This very special concert will celebrate his 76th birthday with his long-time bandmates coming to party with him. Band members include Ernie on– tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, Marc Seales on piano, Bruce Lett on acoustic bass, and Kendall Kay on drums & percussion....
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"He is one of the greatest living tenor saxophonists, at the top of his game.
- Ian Patterson, All About Jazz
"The celebrated young lions of jazz may have daunting power and speed, but few of them have what tenor saxophonist Watts has honed to perfection; phrasing as natural as falling water and a sound that is at once steeped in tradition and wholly unique.” - People Magazine
Legendary musician Ernie Watts is bringing his band members from LA and Seattle to THE 222 in Healdsburg for two exclusive performances Saturday, October 23, and Sunday, October 24. This very special concert will celebrate his 76th birthday with his long-time bandmates coming to party with him. Band members include Ernie on– tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, Marc Seales on piano, Bruce Lett on acoustic bass, and Kendall Kay on drums & percussion.
Two-time Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Ernie Watts is one of the most versatile and prolific saxophone players in music. It has been more than fifty years since he first picked up a saxophone, playing professionally since he was 16 years old. Watts has been featured on over 500 recordings, always exhibiting his unforgettable trademark sound. In a diverse career that has spanned more than 50 years, he has been recorded and played with artists ranging from Thelonious Monk to Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa to the Rolling Stones.
There will be two shows, Saturday, October 23, 7pm, and Sunday,October 24, 7pm, in the very intimate concert performance space located within the Paul Mahder Gallery.
THE 222 is an intimate, non-profit venue created to present a wide variety of the performing arts year-round. THE 222 is a non-profit, membership-driven organization. THE 222 invites members and patrons to share and support THE 222’s vision of world-class performing arts events in a first-rate venue. Performances and other events will include jazz, classical, contemporary and choral music, film screenings, literary readings, and much more. Programming jazz for THE 222 is Jessica Felix, Founder, and Artistic Director, 1999-2020, of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.
This new venue, THE 222, was designed for the optimal audience experience, features a brand-new Yamaha DCFX 9-foot concert grand piano, a professional Bose Sound system, stage lighting, a temperature-controlled gallery auditorium, a raised stage, impeccable acoustics, and club-style seating. To make each event both visually and musically compelling, performers and audience alike will be surrounded by the gallery’s current fine art exhibitions.
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