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
Noble Thin Man Watts/ Complete Recordings 1955-68 (revised and updated)
RépondreSupprimerhttps://mega.nz/file/CUYxTSZT#Vp-Q_W8Tswa1wmnSb6fvVePhM5sAc8Bf_2TYSUrUqi4
OK. And don't forget any feedback is welcome
New site to me. Looks good! Got a bunch of Watt's 45s, but not with all the dates and players. Great work.
RépondreSupprimerThanks.
Hi Gerard,
RépondreSupprimerthank you for the up.graded post.f\stay well my friend.
Two songs with Jimmy Smith !!! Magnificent
RépondreSupprimerThanks Gerard. I was missing a lot of this early stuff. Nice to hear it.
RépondreSupprimerThanks Gerard. I was missing a lot of this early stuff. Nice to hear it.
RépondreSupprimerThanx Very Much, First Heard The Thin Man On The Grease Soundtrack Of All Places
RépondreSupprimerCheers
Tel
Thanks for another fine and enjoyable collection!
RépondreSupprimerExcellent post! Such a backbone to the NY R&B finally gets its dues. Thank you!
RépondreSupprimerThanks-not only for the music but the recording info as well !
RépondreSupprimerJoe
Mucho gras....
RépondreSupprimerThank You Kindly For The Music Shared !
RépondreSupprimerI'd much rather have this than Mashed Potatoes and Pig Ears and Rice! Thank you.
RépondreSupprimerThank You
RépondreSupprimerSo obviously a labour of love Gérard, I'm loving your blog.
RépondreSupprimer