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Mark Watkins: FOUR + Six

By Chris May
April 5, 2024
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We had out of nowhere, we had straight outta Compton. Here comes straight out of Brigham Young University, Idaho, where saxophone quartet FOUR leader

Mark Watkins

saxophone, soprano

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Watkins has been director of jazz studies since 1999. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints may not the most abundant source of high-grade jazz—one assumes that Watkins is a member—but FOUR + Six proves it can be. Who would have thunk it? But jazz is a broad church and the album is proof that preconceptions have no place when approaching it.

FOUR + Six is the quartet's sixth album and on it, as the title suggests, the lineup is augmented to become a little big band. Watkins (soprano and tenor saxophones),

Ray Smith

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Smith (alto saxophone),

Sandon Mayhew

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Sandon Mayhew (tenor saxophone) and

Jon Gudmundson

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Gudmundson (baritone saxophone} are joined by trumpeter

Derrick Gardner

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Derrick Gardner (

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie and Harry Connick Jr bands), trombonist

Vincent Gardner

trombone
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Vincent Gardner (Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra), guitarist

Corey Christiansen

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Corey Christiansen, pianist

Justin Nielsen

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Justin Nielsen, bassist

Braun Khan

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Braun Khan and drummer

Kobie Watkins

drums
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Kobie Watkins (eight years on the road with

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins). Class acts all of them.

All the tunes are Watkins originals and, boy, do they ring the changes. There is bop, there is modal, there is third stream, there is Latin, there is sumptuous balladry, there is New Orleans marching band. And it all hangs together thanks to Watkins' arrangements. The ensemble work is precise, the soloists concise and memorable. FOUR + Six is, in fact, a gem.

It is also a remarkable personal achievement. Watkins was born partially blind and by 2020 had lost all vision. He writes that, wanting to maintain his independence, he struggled to complete parts of his job, until one day a colleague said: "'You have to let people help you.' It changed my outlook, and I moved forward." With the help of two of his students Watkins was able to put down the arrangements for FOUR + Six. Give thanks.

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Track Listing

On Any Given Day in Summer; Don't Care Who Knows It; Against My Desire to Imagine; The Executioner is Looking Away; Shouldn'a Did That; Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow and Forever; Without Another Word.

Personnel

Mark Watkins

saxophone, soprano

Ray Smith

saxophone, alto

Sandon Mayhew

saxophone, tenor

Jon Gudmundson

saxophone, baritone

Derrick Gardner

trumpet

Vincent Gardner

trombone

Justin Nielsen

piano

Corey Christiansen

guitar

Braun Kahn

bass

Kobie Watkins

drums

FOUR

band / ensemble / orchestra

Album information

Title: FOUR + Six | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Jazz Hang Records

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