Southern Exposure Ken Watters

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CD

  • Release Date: 05/01/2001
  • Sales Rank: 197,022
  • Label: SUMMIT(CLASSICAL)
  • UPC: 099402289922

Listener Rating: (2 ratings)

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  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
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Southern Exposure

1LISTENJessica / Ken Watters Group 7:40
2LISTENCooler on the Horizon / Ken Watters Group 4:38
3LISTENBoth Sides Now / Ken Watters Group 7:48
4LISTENStella by Starlight / Ken Watters Group 6:29
5LISTENWe'll Be Together Again / Ken Watters Group 7:29
6LISTENApril Third / Ken Watters Group 3:59
7LISTENFire and Rain / Ken Watters Group 3:52
8LISTENPathfinder / Ken Watters Group 9:54

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

This Ken Watters album for Summit is with his regular working quartet, and provides a play list of standards, jazz tunes (including a couple of originals), and rock stuff adapted for a small jazz group. The result is a mixed bag in terms of the effect upon the ear. A quiet, introspective "Fire & Rain" makes this song sound better than it should, with engaging conversational back-and-forth between Watters and David Marlow's piano and Jay Frederick's shuffling drum rhythms holding it all together. If there can be such a thing as a thinking man's rock tune, this is what it sounds like. More introspection, modern-style (but with Bach overtones if Bach had written jazz music), on a ten-minute journey into the compositional mind of Watters. This track demands close, careful listening if one is to grab fully the interplay between the musicians. One of the loudest of the conversationalists, and most glib, is the probing, combative soprano sax of Joel Frahm. He fits in like he was called up, invited to a party, and told to "Come as you are." But olé, here comes "Jessica" with an infectious Latin beat to lighten up matters. Then come the standards. The only part of "Stella by Starlight" used is its title. This oft-recorded song (and probably one of the most beautiful of all popular tunes) is given an impressionistic rendering with dazzling piano runs by Marlow and melodic drumming by Frederick built around the assertive horn of leader Watters. "We'll Be Together Again" is accorded much more respectful treatment with a romantic opening by Marlow and Davis-like musing by Watters. Creative modern music is the norm here, and they do it well. Dave Nathan, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

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  • Ratings: 2Reviews: 2

Southern Exposureby Anonymous

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June 05, 2001: Ken Watters just gets better & better & better with everything he composes and performs. The jazz audience is in for some fine musical expressions on the newly released Ken Watters CD titled SOUTHERN EXPOSURE, an intricate, highly polished and entertaining collection of 8 straight-ahead, classic works of jazz. From the time this CD starts to play, you realize you are in the presence of some very gifted musicians with a jazz message to share which is unique, imaginative, and truly creative! Selections include ''Jessica,'' ''Both Sides Now,'' ''Stella By Starlight,'' ''We'll Be Together Again,'' ''Fire and Rain,'' and the following new compositions by Ken Watters: ''Cooler On The Horizon,'' ''April Third,'' and ''Pathfinder.'' Each song in this collection is a beauty of a performance, flawless, and enjoyable jazz. A true listening experience that moves the senses. Ken Watters is without a doubt one of the finest trumpet and flugelhorn performers in jazz today as well as one of the leading composers. Each solo performance is both impeccable and full of energy. As to the group, one would be hard pressed to find a more synergistic group with such imaginative work as revealed on this collection. David Marlow is a masterful pianist, and his style and approach is graceful as well as in-depth, each note a great sound expression. Roy Yarbrough on acoustic bass and Jay Fredericks on drums add further polish and class to the collection as does the saxophone work of Joel Frahm. Ken Watters and his talented group of musicians add a whole new exciting dimension to the sounds of jazz with their style, approach, and joy of performances. The Ken Watters Group has a solid hit with their SOUTHERN EXPOSURE, a CD to be enjoyed often and anywhere!

Southern Exposureby Anonymous

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April 17, 2001: After two recordings with trombonist brother Harry, Trumpeter Ken Watters brings his working quartet into the studio, where he produces his strongest musical statement yet. The previous Watters' offerings, Brothers (Summit 234) and Brothers II (Summit 266), made with brother Harry, revealed Ken Watters as a composer and arranger of great depth, breadth, and sense of humor. On these discs, Watters displayed his fearless musical vision by choosing unlikely standards to perform, such as ''Everything's Alright'' from Jesus Christ Superstar. Also revealed on these recordings is Ken Watters' perfectly round trumpet tone, soft and warm and seriously sensuous. His performances are super-fluid and effortless. The overall effect: refined, sophisticated music, delivered in and with the best of taste. Southern Exposure accelerates Ken Watters' vision on Brothers and Brothers II into hyperspace, exploring more daring standards territory while showing Watters to be expanding his compositional horizon. David Marlow's jaunty piano opens the disc with the Allman Brothers Band's ''Jessica''. This beacon of 1970s Southern Rock is given a decidedly Latin personality. Marlow and Watters shine in solos, but it is saxophonist Joel Frahm who steals the show with a sizzling South-of-the-Border break that leaves the listener breathless. Habanero indeed. ''Cooler on the Horizon'' is a wistful ballad that sways with a humid Caribbean gentility. Jay Frederick's drumming is exceptional as is Roy Yarbrough's bass playing. And for course, Watters sets the tropical mood with his warm timbre. And this is just the front of the disc. Watters' includes Joni Mitchell's ''Both Sides Now'' and James Taylor's ''Fire and Rain'' in a mini-tribute to Southern California. Both songs are treated tenderly and surpass any of the unlikely standards Herbie Hancock included on his 1996 release, The New Standard (Verve 529584) with a grace and aplomb beyond description. Watters trumpet is again caressing and gentle without ever being sentimental or sloppy. The disc is rounded out with a full-throated ''Stella by Starlight'' and a pensive ''We'll Be Together Again'' plus two more originals. Expertly produced by veteran producer Johnny Sandlin (The Allman Brothers, Duane Allman), Southern Exposure offers a progressive mainstream break from the current jazz status quo. This is an unqualified fine disc that would be a worthy addition to any jazz fan's library. Now, go get it!