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. 27^th Street in Manhattan; www.jazzstandard.com. Sets at 7:30 and 9:30 pm, plus 11:30 pm Friday/Saturday.