JOHN WATSON (TROMBONE & VOCALS)

John Watson is the group's

cheerleader, stand-up comic, ambassador, singer actor ("The

Fugitive", "Soul Food", "Only the

Lonely"), and of course Trombone Player Extraordinaire. A

veteran of Count Basie's band and retired Chicago Public School

band teacher, John will eagerly attest, "I'm havin' a

ball!"

John first learned by listening to his

father's Art Tatum-style piano playing at home in Ohio. But from

the earliest he loved trombone and eventually he worked his way

up to Basie's band where for two years his mentor was the great

Al Gray. As a result, "The Singing Trombonist," as

Clark likes to introduce John, has become an expert at tonal

control -- especially the subtle, bent-note shadings he achieves

with his plunger with which he says he tries to imitate the

sound of blues harmonica. "You know it's the blues when you

hear the harmonica," says John. In addition to his fine,

bluesy playing, another highlight is his profound, improvised

solo on Black Boat Song.

He's also a singer with a passion for telling

the story and on Rocks in My Bed there's joy in the

narration of his misfortunes -- a catharsis that is as much fun

for the listener as it is release for him. He likewise turns his

dialogs with Yoko on Cherry, Don't You Feel My Leg and I Want a Little Girl into great spontaneous theater.

Of his musical camaraderie with Sonny, he

says, "It just works 'cause we're both enjoying the

music," and then adds with comic swagger, "and he's

cold blooded enough to try to put the pressure on me. I told

him, he go to know everything, cause if he don't, I know more

than he does!"

"I have a good

time," says John, "and I'm always listening. I found

out if you let the music dictate, you can't lose. Just your

heart and your ears. You can't lose!"