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mardi 6 octobre 2020

NOBLE "Thin Man" Watts/ Complete Recordings 1955-68

 

NOBLE WATTS/ Complete Recordings 1955-68

             


Noble "Thin Man" (ce surnom vient de sa ressemblance avec l'acteur William Powell qui incarnait le célèbre détective de Dashiell Hammett au cinéma) Watts (né le 17 février 1926 à DeLand en Floride) a fait des études de musique à l'Université A&M de Floride en compagnie des frères Adderley (Nat et "Cannonball"). Il apprend à jouer du violon et de la trompette mais se spécialise dans le saxophone.

            Après un court passage dans l'orchestre des Griffin Brothers, Noble rejoint Paul 'Hucklebuck" Williams en 1952, enregistrant avec lui de nombreuses séances et accompagnant Dinah Washington, Amos Milburn, Ruth Brown, Lionel Hampton... En 1954, à Chicago, Noble enregistre un premier 45t pour DeLuxe puis en 1955 pour Vee Jay avant de partir s'installer à New York et, là, de véritablement démarrer une carrière de leader de son propre ensemble. Tout en restant toujours fidèle au jazz, Noble Watts est certainement un des saxophonistes les plus terriens de son époque, ne s'éloignant que rarement du blues. Avec l'adjonction du superbe et très imaginatif guitariste Wild Jimmy Spruill, sa musique flirte de plus en plus avec le Rock'n'roll et il émarge au genre avec plusieurs succès instrumentaux comme Blast off, Shakin', Flap Jack et Hard Times (The slop) qui pénètre même dans le Top 50 Pop en 1957.

            Les années suivantes le voient tourner de façon incessante en compagnie des plus grosses vedettes du Rock comme Jerry Lee Lewis, les Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry ou Little Richard.

            Après son mariage avec la belle chanteuses June Bateman, Noble reste davantage autour de New York où il assure les parties musicales des combats de boxe du Harlem Lounge tout en s'occupant activement de la carrière de son épouse avec des réussites comme le classique Possum belly overalls.

            La vogue des saxophonistes de Rock passant de mode dans les années 1960-70, Noble est obligé de réduire considérablement son orchestre et de se produire surtout dans des restaurants chics de la Floride où, lui et June, sont retournés s'installer. "Redécouvert" en 1987 par le producteur Bob Greenlee, Noble retrouve les scènes des festivals et le chemin des studios et enregistre encore plusieurs excellents albums pour Kingsnake/ Alligator ou Ichiban.

            Il décède d'une pneumonie le 24 août 2004 dans sa maison près de Miami.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

            Un grand merci à Pierre Monnery pour son aide

 


Noble "Thin Man" (this nickname coming from a resemblance with William Powell who played the famous Dashiell Hammett's detective) Watts was born on February 17, 1926 in DeLand, Fl and followed musical training at the A&M Florida University alongside such future luminaries like Nat and "Cannonball" Adderley. Although he played violin and trumpet, he specialized into the saxophone.

            After short stints with several bands (The Griffin Brothers), Noble joined the famous Paul Williams Orchestra (Hucklebuck), playing and recording with them for several years. While in Chicago, he recorded some singles but his career started really when he relocated in New York in 1957. While still strongly influenced by the jazz, Noble Watts favoured a much bluesy and gutsy sound that the other saxophonists of the time, in part thanks to the strong presence in his band of Wild Jimmy Spruill, an adventurous, rocking and full of feeling young guitarist. During some years, Noble Watts recorded several hits (Blast off, Shakin, Flap Jack , The slop(Hard Times) that gave him a special notoriety among Rock'n'roll buffs. Noble and his band were constantly touring the USA with big R'n'R names like Jerry Lee Lewis, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry or Little Richard.

            After his marriage with the fine singer June Bateman and tired of being on the road, Noble stayed in New York, taking a steady job as the leading band at the boxing Harlem Lounge and managing his wife's career.

            With the dwindling popularity of the honking saxes, Noble and June went back in Florida, playing mostly on supper lounges and small clubs. Rediscovered by producer Bob Greenlee, Noble resumed his career to tour the blues festivals all around the world and recorded a string of LP's for Alligator and Ichiban.

            He died of pneumonia in his Florida's home on august 24 2004.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

            A lot of thanks to Pierre Monnery for his help

 

 

NOBLE WATTS/ 1955-1968

Noble Watts, t-sax; Jimmy Smith, og; Floyd Smith, g; bs; Chris Colombus, dms. Baltimore, MD. 22 october 1954

01. Mashing potatoes

02. Pig ears and rice

Noble Watts, t-sax; Paul Williams, a-sax; Dabby Moore, tpt; Harlan Floyd, tb; Bobby Parker, t-sax; Lefty Bates, g; Clifton Small, pno; George Washington, bs; Wilfrid Eddleton, dms. Chicago, Ill. 17 december 1955

03 Give it up

04 Pass the buck

05 Big two four

06 South shore drive

07 Great times

Noble Watts, t-sax; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, july 1957

08 Easy going I & II

09 Midnight flight

Noble Watts, t-sax; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, october 1957

10. The slop (Hard times)

11. Walking the floor over you

12. Blast off

13. Rickey tick

Noble Watts, t-sax; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; bs; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, 1958

14. The slide

15. The creep

16. Shakin'

17. Flap Jack

18. Hot tamales

Noble Watts, t-sax; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; bs; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, 1959

19. Original boogie woogie

20. Mashed potatoes

Noble Watts, t-sax; horns; Royal Hamilton, pno; Wild Bill Davis, og; Wild Jimmy Spruill, g; bs; Willie Jenkins, dms. New York City, 1960

21. The beaver

22. Frog hop

Noble Watts, t-sax; King Curtis, t-sax; Billy Butler, g; Wild Bill Davis, og; bs; Bernard Purdie, dms. New York City, 1962

23. Jookin'

Noble Watts, t-sax; band. Newark, NJ. 1963

24. Florida shake

Limbo authentique

Noble Watts, t-sax; band. New York City, 1964

25. Noble's theme

Noble Watts, t-sax; band. New York City, 1965

26. Teen scene

27. Leave that girl alone

28. John Friday's son

Noble Watts, t-sax; band. New York City, 12 july 1968

29. F.L.A.

30. Thing a majig

 

 

15 commentaires:

  1. Noble Thin Man Watts/ Complete Recordings 1955-68 (revised and updated)
    https://mega.nz/file/CUYxTSZT#Vp-Q_W8Tswa1wmnSb6fvVePhM5sAc8Bf_2TYSUrUqi4
    OK. And don't forget any feedback is welcome

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  2. New site to me. Looks good! Got a bunch of Watt's 45s, but not with all the dates and players. Great work.
    Thanks.

    RépondreSupprimer
  3. Hi Gerard,
    thank you for the up.graded post.f\stay well my friend.

    RépondreSupprimer
  4. Two songs with Jimmy Smith !!! Magnificent

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  5. Thanks Gerard. I was missing a lot of this early stuff. Nice to hear it.

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  6. Thanks Gerard. I was missing a lot of this early stuff. Nice to hear it.

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  7. Thanx Very Much, First Heard The Thin Man On The Grease Soundtrack Of All Places
    Cheers
    Tel

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  8. Thanks for another fine and enjoyable collection!

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  9. Excellent post! Such a backbone to the NY R&B finally gets its dues. Thank you!

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  10. Thanks-not only for the music but the recording info as well !

    Joe

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  11. Thank You Kindly For The Music Shared !

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  12. I'd much rather have this than Mashed Potatoes and Pig Ears and Rice! Thank you.

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  13. So obviously a labour of love Gérard, I'm loving your blog.

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