Biography
Despite rock & roll's commercial dominance nearly erasing traditional jazz from British airwaves, bandleader Tommy Watt remained the notable exception, his broad recognition stemming chiefly from the consistent excellence of his elite ensemble, spotlighted by tenor saxophonist Tubby Hayes, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Ross, and trombonist Jackie Armstrong.
Born October 31, 1925, in Glasgow, Scotland, Watt departed home at age 17 to perform piano behind clarinetist Carl Barriteau. Military service summoned him in 1944, during which he served in the Royal Air Force alongside actor Brian Rix. Following the conclusion of World War II, he settled in London, performing in West End clubs and joining sessions with the big bands led by Ambrose, Harry Roy, and Ken Mackintosh.
In 1955 Watt reconnected with Rix, a committed jazz enthusiast who consented to finance a demonstration recording. That tape proved decisive in obtaining Watt a BBC contract, resulting in numerous midday broadcasts backing vocalist Matt Munro. The BBC engagement also drew the notice of Parlophone Records, which engaged him as a session pianist and arranger. He formed the initial version of his big band in 1956 during a residency at the London restaurant Quaglino's. The roster included emerging British jazz standouts such as Hayes, Ross, Armstrong, trumpeters Tommy McQuater and Bert Courtley, and drummer Phil Seaman. The ensemble soon cut its debut sides and swiftly established itself as the first U.K. jazz outfit to match the sonic and inventive caliber of its American counterparts, securing steady radio play even amid widespread dismissal of non-pop material.
Following receipt of an Ivor Novello Award for the single "Overdrive," the Tommy Watt Big Band released its debut full-length album, It Might as Well Be Swing, in 1958. Watt's charts drew extensively from the style of Count Basie, whose admiration for the work later led him to incorporate several of Watt's charts into his own book. Once the Quaglino's engagement concluded, Watt nevertheless disbanded the group to compose and arrange a series of stage productions headlined by Rix as well as two films released in 1961, The Night We Got the Bird and Nothing Barred. He also briefly directed the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra, yet his confrontational manner quickly provoked hostility from BBC executives, rendering the appointment brief. In 1964 Watt launched a fresh ensemble called the Centre 42 Big Band while also contributing scores to the newly formed London Weekend Television. Throughout the rest of the decade he additionally functioned as musical director for vocalists Tommy Cooper and Freddie Starr.
After consenting in 1970 to assemble another big band for a residency at London's Dorchester Hotel, Watt found his listeners consisted almost wholly of war widows. He soon abandoned the engagement and shifted to a career as an interior decorator, making occasional piano appearances at the West London club the Bull's Head. Watt likewise devoted several years to raising his children while his wife Romany pursued work as a magazine journalist. Their son Ben Watt later achieved notable success as one member of the pop duo Everything But the Girl. Tommy Watt died in Bristol on May 20, 2006.
Born October 31, 1925, in Glasgow, Scotland, Watt departed home at age 17 to perform piano behind clarinetist Carl Barriteau. Military service summoned him in 1944, during which he served in the Royal Air Force alongside actor Brian Rix. Following the conclusion of World War II, he settled in London, performing in West End clubs and joining sessions with the big bands led by Ambrose, Harry Roy, and Ken Mackintosh.
In 1955 Watt reconnected with Rix, a committed jazz enthusiast who consented to finance a demonstration recording. That tape proved decisive in obtaining Watt a BBC contract, resulting in numerous midday broadcasts backing vocalist Matt Munro. The BBC engagement also drew the notice of Parlophone Records, which engaged him as a session pianist and arranger. He formed the initial version of his big band in 1956 during a residency at the London restaurant Quaglino's. The roster included emerging British jazz standouts such as Hayes, Ross, Armstrong, trumpeters Tommy McQuater and Bert Courtley, and drummer Phil Seaman. The ensemble soon cut its debut sides and swiftly established itself as the first U.K. jazz outfit to match the sonic and inventive caliber of its American counterparts, securing steady radio play even amid widespread dismissal of non-pop material.
Following receipt of an Ivor Novello Award for the single "Overdrive," the Tommy Watt Big Band released its debut full-length album, It Might as Well Be Swing, in 1958. Watt's charts drew extensively from the style of Count Basie, whose admiration for the work later led him to incorporate several of Watt's charts into his own book. Once the Quaglino's engagement concluded, Watt nevertheless disbanded the group to compose and arrange a series of stage productions headlined by Rix as well as two films released in 1961, The Night We Got the Bird and Nothing Barred. He also briefly directed the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra, yet his confrontational manner quickly provoked hostility from BBC executives, rendering the appointment brief. In 1964 Watt launched a fresh ensemble called the Centre 42 Big Band while also contributing scores to the newly formed London Weekend Television. Throughout the rest of the decade he additionally functioned as musical director for vocalists Tommy Cooper and Freddie Starr.
After consenting in 1970 to assemble another big band for a residency at London's Dorchester Hotel, Watt found his listeners consisted almost wholly of war widows. He soon abandoned the engagement and shifted to a career as an interior decorator, making occasional piano appearances at the West London club the Bull's Head. Watt likewise devoted several years to raising his children while his wife Romany pursued work as a magazine journalist. Their son Ben Watt later achieved notable success as one member of the pop duo Everything But the Girl. Tommy Watt died in Bristol on May 20, 2006.
Albums