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!"