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ERNIE WATTS A Simple Truth Flying Dolphin FD 1009

1. The Sound: Morning

2. No Lonely Nights

3. The Road We’re On

4. Acceptance

5. Bebop

6. Hope in the Face of Despair

7. A Simple Truth

8. The Sound: Evening.

Ernie Watts - Tenor sax

Christof Saenger – Piano

Rudi Engel - Acoustic bass

Heinrich Koebberling – Drums

Ron Feuer - Synthesized orchestration (tracks 1, 8)

The publicity describes this as “a concept album”, whose alternative title might be “A day in the life of Ernie Watts”. It is supposed to take us from morning to evening, although the concept sometimes becomes a little vague and it is difficult to match the music to the stated programme.

But you can ignore the concept if yoiuwishbecause this is an album featuring a quartet led by a saxophonist who can encompass a wide range of styles: from the powerful Bebop to the tender Hope in the Face of Despair. Nat Hentoff said that Ernie Watts has “total control of his instrument” and this is illustrated by the variety of dynamics in Ernie’s playing. For instance, on Keith Jarrett’s No Lonely Nights, the rhythm section lays out at the start so that Watts can play a solitary introduction, which may portray waking up to a new day. And in The Sound: Morning Watts explores the whole gamut of the tenor sax: soaring high then plunging low, and improvising with lyrical fervour. On this first track and the final The Sound: Evening, Ernie is backed simply by Rob Feuer on synthesizers, conjuring up rhapsodic pictures of dawn and dusk.

Elsewhere the keyboard work is by Christof Saenger, a pianist who matches Watts in lyricism and versatility. Saenger creates melodic solos which equal the leader’s in brilliance. His solo on No Lonely Nights is satisfyingly shapely; his piano sound resembles a cool stream in the title-track; and his improvisation on Bebop sparkles at a very fast tempo. In fact Bebop is one of the highlights of the album, perhaps suggesting the noonday sunlight and warmth. At one point Watts is backed only by drums, stoking up the heat to the highest force.

Already a pensioner, and having played with the bands of such leaders as Buddy Rich and Gerald Wilson (as well as touring with the Rolling Stones!), Ernie might be considered a veteran but there is no sign of tiredness in this youthful album. His quartet has been together for about 15 years and you can hear its experience in the unity and empathy of the playing.

Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk

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