Ken Watters amp Harry - Brothers II (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

Excerpts from recent reviews of "Brothers II"

06/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Ken & Harry Watters do it again! On their new release, "Brothers II," these young lions display their sharp technical music abilities through six perfectly timed original compositions and introduce a new light on some great jazz classics." -- Morrice Blackwell / The Jazz Review"The music performed in a word is mainstream, immediately accessible and listenable...The effect is stunning." -- Michael Bailey / All About Jazz"Ken's "Port-au-Prince" serves as the album's high point, with its blazing hot, aggressive horn and guitar solos over wild, syncopated rhythms. Ken & Harry Watters share a healthy respect for straight-ahead jazz, as they come together for more jamming and fascinating adventures." -- Jim Santella / L.A. Jazz Scene"

Consolidates promise of "Brothers"

07/08/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ken And Harry Watters: "Brothers II" Summit Records: DCD 266 Duration: 63'35" Brothers, Ken and Harry Watters, have consolidated the success of last year's collaboration "Brothers" with a follow up recording. Certainly, there are a number of similarities to the earlier recording - a mix of originals and re-arranged standards, and a basic quintet format on most tracks - but there are also some subtle differences. The basic rhythm section used on this recording have worked with Ken Watters on a regular basis allowing a true rapport and trust to develop with all members of the working quartet. This is further enhanced by the close musical relationship between the brothers Ken and Harry bringing a sense of musical fulfilment to the new CD "Brothers II". Without doubt this CD more closely reflects their true musical personalities to advantage.On the CD, recorded in Decatur, Alabama this year, Ken plays both trumpet (wide-bored) and also flugelhorn (on some tracks) while Harry plays trombone throughout. The similarity of the tone and range of their instruments added to the amazing similarity in their phrasing makes it difficult at times to identify one brother from the other. They are joined by David Marlow, piano, Roy Yarborough, acoustic bass, and Jay Frederick on drums and percussion. Special guests on the recording are Tom Wolfe, guitar on "Out Of Nowhere" and "Port-au-Prince", and John Miller, piano on "Out Of Nowhere". The CD begins with an uptempo version of the familiar tune "Everything's Alright", which has the the melody gliding over a floating 5/4 undercurrent. The original tune "Sommerset Road" is mellow and reflective, contrasting with the rhythmic shuffle given to Mancini's "Days Of Wine And Roses" that follows. "Judy Rebecca", another original has a warm, countrified feel, while the standard "There Is No Greater Love" swings gracefully. "Vessel" is a lilting waltz which gets a really good workout from pianist David Marlow. Harry's contibution, "Trainer On The Beach", has definite Latin overtones and reaffirms his love of "Carribean sounds". Guitarist Tom Wolfe and pianist John Miller, join the quintet for a romp through "Out Of Nowhere". Ken's original "Mrs. Howell" is an unusually fiery bop tune with some great solos from Ken and Harry. "Pure Imagination" is a reflective ballad that acts as a lull before the storm of the final offering "Port-au-Prince". Tom Wolfe again joins the group for the driving rhythm of this contemporary tune playing some rather over-driven guitar, which brings the CD to an exciting conclusion.With its variety of styles and moods this is an excellent recording which confirms the promise of Ken and Harry's first CD. It is distributed exclusively in the USA and Canada by the Allegro Corporation"

Hardbop Brothers

Ezell Thompson | Bellingham, Washington United States | 07/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, if you like Hardbop or Straightahead Jazz, you are going to go nuts over Brothers-Ken&Harry Watters! Jazz does not get any better than this. With a rich melodic sound on both the ballads and the cookers, this is sure to please any jazz purest. With the exception of Port-au-Prince, I found this CD impecably enjoyable. Both Brothers And Brothers 2 CD's are a must for any astute Jazz collector. Enjoy!"

J. Robert Bragonier's 52nd St. Jazz review

Ezell Thompson | 01/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a pleasant find this CD was! I hadn't heard of the Watters brothers, although they have both been on the professional music scene for a while. Ken lived and played trumpet in New York City for eight years, while Harry has been leader of the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans for a number of years. Currently he is jazz trombonist with the Army Blues Big Band in Washington, DC. They both have chops to burn; Harry in particular plays accurately and clearly, with remarkable control and intonation, in the stratosphere. (Ken says, "His job is far tougher than mine when it comes to playing my tunes. Harry has incredible range and control of his instrument, and I always write his parts in the same sounding range as trumpet_[creating] a timbre somewhere between trumpet and trombone.") Harry's tone is mellow, as soft and smooth as a feather's caress. Think Bill Watrous or perhaps the polar opposite of Ray Anderson. On their first album for Summit, the brothers were backed by Kenny Werner, Scott Colley and Scott Neumann, but here they utilize Ken's rhythm section from the Ken Watters Group, a working band that gigs around the Southeast and plays like a finely tuned unit. Yarbrough has 18 years of professional experience under his belt; Marlow's technique bespeaks his conservatory background. Frederick is the youngest (23 when this recording was made), but he is well grounded, and his playing reflects well on his heroes, who range from Philly Joe Jones to Jack DeJohnette. All the musicians live in, or hail from, Alabama. The CD kicks off with an uptempo version of a 5/4 ballad from Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Jesus Christ Superstar," an unusual but ultimately convincing vehicle for improvisation. "Sommerset Road" is one of five of Ken's endearing originals ("Trainer on the Beach" is Harry's), a thoughtful and lovely ballad dedicated to their father. The Mancini is taken brightly; "_No Greater Love," with flugelhorn and trombone, finds a nice, swinging groove, as does "Vessel," a jazz waltz; "Trainer" percolates above a Latin beat; and "Nowhere," an F&T duet with a "K&JJ" feel, simmers along at about 350o F. "Mrs. Howell" cranks it up to 450, a post-bop cooker. "Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," believe it or not, is the source of "Pure Imagination," a warm-hearted ballad featuring a delicious piano intro and F&T solos. The closer is the most adventurous of the set, with modal tinges, trumpet and trombone fireworks, a crunching electric guitar solo, and Voodoo (RaRa) rhythms. Taken as a whole, this is a very satisfying program, and one that I have enjoyed very much getting to know. I hope I've been able to communicate that to you JRB"

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