Charlie Haydn Quartet West: Alan Broadbent, pno, Ernie Watts, tenor, Lance Marabel, drums, Charlie Haydn, bass. I only have one good Ernie Watts story. I was at the Solvang Jazz Fest in 2006 to see Gordon Goodwins Big Phat Band and the late and wonderful tenor player Mister James Moody, in one of his final appearances, was one of the guest players. The lovely old gentleman had just finished playing Moodys Mood For Love and had left the stage and was walking through the audience. I got to meet him and thank him for all the years of great music (another story), and while Gordons band was still on stage Mr. Moody was standing over to the right side of the stage putting his horn in the case, he kind of got the old man wobbles for a second and I saw it and started to get up from my table to give some assistance. At the table in front of me was Ernie Watts. I hadnt seen him there. But before I got over to Mr. Moody, Ernie got up and walked over to him and kind of lightly put his arm around him. I dont know if anybody else witnessed the thing, but there were two generations of the best tenor players in the world together and I damn near teared up to see Ernie taking care of the over eighty year old James Moody. It was one of those kind of moments that are so meaningful you cant really put into words, it was subtle and yet beautiful. Anyway, heres Alan Broadbent, mentioned earlier today, and Ernie Watts. (That was the night and the first time I met Gordon Goodwin and Dan Fornero...another story for another time.) Ok....when I got to talk for a second to Mr. Moody, I said something lame like ...Mr. Moody, Sir....Ive been listening to you since my hair was dark! (Hairs white now, whats left of it.) He looked at my head and said ...youve just made an old man very happy.... Now to the music: youtube/watch?v=D8k7H-lDj7Q
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 02:45:55 +0000
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