 George Cables Acclaimed
pianist George Cables has a new project featuring the hot rhythm team
from the Branford Marsalis Quartet and a seasoned alum of the Jazz
Messengers and Sphere. With Gary Bartz, Eric Revis and Jeff “Tain”
Watts, Cables bring his ensemble to Jazz Standard in Manhattan,
November 2-5.
Native
New Yorker George Cables attended the “Fame” high
school (High School of the Performing Arts) in Manhattan as a
classically trained pianist. But he was soon inspired by such
pianists at Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, as well as by the giants
of the time, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He attended the Manhattan
School of Music for two years, but soon was busy gigging around New
York including brief stints with Max Roach and Art Blakey. He landed
on the west coast touring with Sonny Rollins and soon was a fixture
on the LA jazz scene. His reputation grew as he worked with Joe
Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Bobby Hutcherson, as well
as Rollins. In the late 70s and beyond, Cables worked extensively
with Dexter Gordon and Art Pepper. Most recently, Cables has worked
on a tribute to Dexter Gordon with Victor Lewis and Rufus Reid, and
the current quartet project with Gary Bartz, Eric Revis and Jeff
Watts.
 Gary Bartz Sax
master Gary Bartz arrived in New York to study at
Julliard at the end of great bop era. Playing with the Max Roach/Abby
Lincoln Group, he was soon considered the greatest alto player since
Cannonball Adderley. He joined Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop and Art
Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in the mid-60s, then began a long
association with McCoy Tyner. A chance to play with Miles Davis came
in the early 70s, at about the same time Gary formed his NTU Troop
Ensemble. Over the years Bartz has released over thirty recordings as
leader and appears on more than 100 as a sideman. He started his own
label Oyo and became part of the new edition of Sphere with Kenny
Barron.
Coming
late to jazz after listening to funk and rock, LA native Eric
Revis got a degree in biology before seriously turning to
music. Living in San Antonio, his friends and listening to Kind of
Blue influenced his interest in jazz, and he switched from
electric to acoustic bass. Moving to New Orleans to study with Ellis
Marsalis, Revis was soon playing with Nicholas Payton, Brian Blade,
Greg Tardy and Mark Turner. Later he joined Betty Carter’s Jazz
Ahead program and relocated to New York, eventually joining forces
with Branford Marsalis. His first recording as a leader (Tales of
the Stuttering Mime) was released in 2004 by Marsalis Music.  Eric Reavis © Andrea Canter Pittsburgh
native Jeff “Tain” Watts first played snare in
fourth grade, but until age 17, he exclusively studied classical
drumming. “Then my parents bought me a drum set," Watts says,
"and I started to check out popular music on the radio.” Even
through college at Duquesne University, Watts focused on classical
percussion, primarily timpani. Enrolling at Berklee, he studied jazz
with Branford Marsalis, Greg Osby, and Marvin Smitty Smith. From that
point, it was all jazz. After working with the Wynton Marsalis
Quintet, Watts performed with George Benson, McCoy Tyner, and Betty
Carter. In 1989, he joined the Branford Marsalis Quartet and
eventually the Tonight Show Band. He joined Kenny Garrett in the mid
90s, also gigging with Danilo Perez, Michael Brecker, Betty Carter,
Kenny Kirkland, Courtney Pine, Geri Allen, Joey Calderazzo and
Claudia Acuña. Watts released his first recording as leader,
Citizen Tain, in 1999.Bar Talk followed in 2002, and
MegaWatts (Sunnyside) in 2004.  Jeff Watts © Andrea Canter Jazz
Standard presents some of the best jazz in a town of the best jazz on
the planet, and you can enjoy your post bop masterpieces with the
best pulled pork, ribs and sweet potato fries from the kitchen of
Blue Smoke, the dining room above the jazz club. And there will be
plenty of smoke and sizzle on stage with the George Cables Project,
November 2-5.
Jazz
Standard is located at 116 E. 27th Street in Manhattan;
www.jazzstandard.com.
Sets at 7:30 and 9:30 pm, plus 11:30 pm Friday/Saturday.
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Thursday, 08 January 2009
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