UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 26, Page 3
April 4, 1996
In concert; Jazzworks to feature saxophonist Ernie Watts April 21

     Wilmington native Ernie Watts, a 20-year veteran saxophonist of
The Tonight Show Orchestra and one of the most sought-after sidemen in
the world, brings his eclectic blend of jazz back home on Sunday,
April 21, with several special events planned in conjunction with
Jazzworks, the University of Delaware Jazz Project.
     In addition to an evening concert, Watts will appear in open
rehearsal with the UD Jazz Ensemble from 10 a.m. to noon and offer a
jazz workshop from 1:30-2:15 p.m.  Both the rehearsal and the workshop
are free and open to the public and, like the concert, will be held in
Mitchell Hall.
     The first half of the evening concert, scheduled to begin at 8
p.m., will feature Watts in performance with the UD Jazz Ensemble. The
second half will feature Watts with a rhythm section composed of UD
music department faculty Doug Mapp, bass, and Tom Palmer, drums, and
Don Glandon, a well-known Philadelphia jazz pianist. Admission to the
concert is $5. For ticket information, call UD1-HENS.
     Jazzworks, the UD Jazz Project, a new venture designed to
encourage jazz programming in the region, will feature concerts,
workshops, clinics, master classes and other events, with UD faculty
and guest artists.
     "Jazzworks combines the two things we do best in the Department
of Music," David Herman, chairperson, said. "It allows us to reach out
to students-both at UD and area high schools-to help them learn about
jazz and interact with professional jazz musicians, and it also gives
us an opportunity to enrich the University and surrounding community
with excellent and exciting music."
     There currently are nine jazz minors at the University, both men
and women, representing piano, percussion, guitar, sax/clarinet and
trombone. Four of them are from outside the music department, majoring
in engineering, biological sciences, human development and family
process and English/political science.
     Watts grew up in Wilmington and won a scholarship to the
Wilmington Music School, where he was grounded in classical training.
Shortly after enrolling in West Chester University to pursue a career
in music education, he received a Downbeat Scholarship to the Berklee
College of Music in Boston. His classical direction took a decidedly
different turn, when, in his second year there, he landed a spot in
Buddy Rich's Big Band. During a concert, he was spotted by Doc
Severinson, who offered him the tenor saxophone chair with the Tonight
Show Orchestra. Watts accepted the position, moved to Los Angeles in
1970 and was heard nightly from coast to coast for the next 20 years.
     During those years, he also earned a reputation as one of the
best sidemen in the world. Artists with whom he has worked include
Quincy Jones, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, Herbie
Hancock, Whitney Houston, Frank Zappa and Diana Ross.
     He also can be heard on many film and television scores,
including Ghostbusters, Tootsie, The Color Purple and Benson.
     Watts' multifaceted abilities on tenor, alto and soprano sax have
allowed him to segue effortlessly between the worlds of jazz, pop and
rock without missing a beat.
     As he explains it, "Music comes from one central energy, which is
love, and it's essentially a single language with many dialects. As
for me, I'm interested in speaking all those dialects. The more
experience you have in life, the more depth your work will reflect.
The more knowledge you bring to what you're doing, the more content
you will have in your expression. So, playing jazz, rock, whatever,
playing all the things that I play, contributes to and enhances my
performance."
     Also a composer, Watts has 12 solo recordings, many of which
feature his own works. In the l980s, he won a Grammy for Chariots of
Fire, produced by Quincy Jones. He won a second Grammy in 1985 for
Musician.
     His latest releases are Reaching Up and Unity.
     Watts plays SX90 Keilwerth Saxophone exclusively. The April 21
concert is supported by Boosey&Hawkes and area dealers Accent Music
and Vince Marinelli.
     For more information on the concert or the Jazzworks project,
call 831-2577.
                                                          -Beth Thomas