Artist: David Watson
Title: Imprisoned Splendor
Players:
David Watson – Vocals
John Mackay – Piano
Archie Williams – Guitar
Mel Graves – Bass
Steve Webber – Bass
Dartanyan Brown – Bass
Michael Aragon – Drums
Jaimeo Brown – Drums
Linsay Ferguson – Percussion
Peter Welker – Trumpet
Jim Rothermel – Tenor Saxophone
Dale Gutridge – Alto Sax
Warren Dennis-Kahn – Alesis QS8 Voice Master Controller Synthesizer
Lyrics by Dee Bell and David Watson
David Leshare Watson was born in Ft Myers Florida and grew up in Philadelphia Pa. His musical career started in elementary school, singing in talent shows and school concerts. At an early age he was singing the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Nat Cole and Cab Callaway. Through years of listening, by the age of sixteen he had developed the art of scatting, singing the tunes of Eddie Jefferson, John Hendricks and King Pleasure
Enlisting in the army at 17, he began refining his unique talent for jazz, swing standards, and blues. After leaving the army he moved back to Philadelphia and worked odd jobs for a few years. Landing a job as bartender at The Showboat Jazz Theater was a god sent gift. This is where he taught himself to play drums (playing all the drummers drums while the club was closed) and listened to the great singer Frank Sinatra, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, Little Jimmy Scott and Lou Rawls pulling a little of each into his way of singing. He also listened to the great horn players Miles Davis, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young for phrasing and color.
Watson has written quite a number of songs, some of which are included on his CD Imprisoned Splendor. His music comes from broad experience and circumstances in his long musical career. Among the many great musicians he has played or sung with: Billy Browning, George Cables, Hadley Kaliman, Tee Carson, Richie Cole, Johnny Coles, Joyce Cooling, John Handy, Eddie Henderson, Joe Henderson, Michele Hendricks, Bobby Hutcherson, Ed Kelly, Calvin Keys, Herbie Lewis, Mel Martin, Charles McPhearson, Benny Miller, Buddy Montgomery, Mickey Rocker, Shirley Scott and Robert Stewart.
