Bobby Watson and Gregory Diaz, Photo by Andrea Canter

Lisa Henry, Photo by Andrea Canter

The night started out with a makeshift quartet of Watson, Jordan’s partners Zirk Bonner (bass) and Eddie Bautini (drums), and young pianist Kris Bowers from the Los Angeles County High School of the Arts, the program that fielded the sextet for this tour under the leadership of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Save Bonner and Bautini, these musicians had never performed together. By the end of the first set, that fact seemed irrelevant. Watson is worth the price of admission by himself, and he gave the audience plenty of reason to be glad they stayed on. He wasted no time shifting into virtuoso mode on the rubato opening of the first tune, “Just Friends.” As he would repeat throughout the set, Watson put on an exhibition of circular breathing and swirling waves of notes, creating increasingly complex and frenetic phrases before yielding the first solo to young Chris Bowers. Somewhat hesitant in his first foray, Bowers gained confidence rapidly, and by the end of the set, had become an eloquent and facile spokesman on such gems as Tyner’s “Passion Dance,” Henderson’s “Record-a-Me,” and a samba-infused “That’s All.”

Watson provided the one slow interlude of the set with a beautifully legato reading of "These Foolish Things" before inviting another LACHSA student, trumpeter Gregory Diaz, to the bandstand. With little time to be nervous in his first major venue performance, Diaz launched into a bustling solo on “I Remember April” (although I am willing to be that he will never forget this March!). He’s still green (as he should be!) but I imagine sometime in the next decade I will see his name at the top of the polls and think back to this debut. The set closed with a pair of crowd-pleasers featuring the powerful voice of Lisa Henry, a frequent collaborator of Watson’s in Kansas City and one-time runner up in the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition. She blew away the blues with a delicious, sassy romp through “Big Fat Daddy” and gave “That’s All” a high energy jolt.

Bobby Watson, Photo by Andrea Canter

Hear Bobby Watson, Lisa Henry, and the student musicians from the Los Angeles County High School of the Arts when they perform at the Dakota (1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis) on Friday and Saturday, March 10-11, sets begin at 7 pm; cover $12, no reservations. Student musicians and educators note, there will be a free "informance" and open jam session with the LACHSA group at the Dakota starting at 11 AM on Saturday, March 11th. Bring your instrument! Visit www.dakotacooks.com for general information.

Los Angeles County High School Sextet

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