Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ernie Watts Quartet: Wheel of Time

Ernie Watts Quartet: Wheel of Time

By Jack Bowers
April 6, 2016
View read count

On the

Buddy Rich

drums
1917 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Buddy Rich band's album Big Swing Face (circa 1967),

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Watts unleashes a blazing alto sax solo on the title track that is guaranteed to send chills up and down the spine and leave listeners wondering, "How did he do that?" Now, almost half a century later, the seventy-year-old Watts continues to weave those mind-bending solos, this time on tenor sax, on Wheel of Time, a quartet date whose nine selections include four written by the leader himself and one each by the other members of the group.

If time has tempered Watts' spirit or abraded his technical skills, it's not apparent here. He plays much as he has since his tenure with Rich or, later, bassist

Charlie Haden

bass, acoustic
1937 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Haden's celebrated Quartet West, which Watts joined as a founding member in 1986. To erase any doubt of that, listen to Watts' aptly named "Velocity" or

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson's aggressive "Inner Urge." This is Watts' working quartet, European version, with whom he has been playing for more than fifteen years (Wheel of Time was recorded in Darmstadt, Germany). Unsheathing their talents while covering Watts' back are pianist

Christof Saenger

" data-original-title="" title="">Christof Saenger (versatile), bassist

Rudi Engel

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudi Engel (unwavering) and drummer

Heinrich Koebberling

" data-original-title="" title="">Heinrich Koebberling (resourceful).

Saenger wrote the lyrical, Latin-flavored "L'Agua Azul," Engel the easygoing "Andi's Blues," Koebberling the undulating "You and You." Completing the program are Watts' "Letter from Home," "A Distant Light" and "Wheel of Time" (the last an earnest tribute to friend and colleague Haden who died in July 2014) and Canadian pianist

Adrean Farrugia

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Adrean Farrugia's light-hearted calypso, "Goose Dance." Engel delivers an engaging solo on "Wheel," as he does on ""A Distant Light" and "Andi's Blues." Koebberling flexes his chops on "Inner Urge," and as for Saenger, he shines whenever his impressive talents are required, as they are on most numbers.

Even so, it is Watts on whose shoulders the album essentially is borne, and they are brawny shoulders indeed. After more than half a century of sharp and spirited blowing, the maestro shows no sign that he is easing back on the throttle. In other words, Wheel of Time is vintage Watts, moderated only by wisdom and experience.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Letter from Home; A Distant Light; Inner Urge; Andi��s Blues; L��Agua Azul; You and You; Velocity; Goose Dance; Wheel of Time (Anthem for Charlie).

Personnel

Ernie Watts

saxophone, tenor

Ernie Watts: tenor saxophone; Christof Saenger: piano; Rudi Engel: bass; Heinrich Koebberling: drums.

Album information

Title: Wheel of Time | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Flying Dolphin Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Music Of Jackie McLean
< Previous

For The Unknown
Next >

Ernie Watts Concerts

Nov 1 Sat

Ernie Watts - Birthday Celebration

Alvas Showroom
San Pedro, CA

Nov 1 Sat

Ernie Watts Quartet

Alvas Showroom
San Predro, CA

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.