“You’re just a vehicle for the music to come through.” – Reggie Watkins
Reggie Watkins has always had a knack for music. He has come a long way from learning how to play the piano at six. Born and raised in West Virginia and spending years in Pittsburgh, Reggie was exposed to musical influences that would later turn him into an internationally-recognized performer, pianist, arranger, and composer. Leveraging his experience fronting a quarter on a cruise ship, he then served as trombonist and musical director for trumpeter and band leader Maynard Ferguson. From there he went on to tour and record with Jason Mraz from 2008 to 2013. He has shared the stage with many great artists from various genres including Aretha Franklin, Dave Matthews, Dianne Shuur, Jose Feliciano, Willie Nelson, Arturo Sandoval, Trombone Shorty, The Temptations, and the O’Jays. He is also a member of the Grammy-nominated Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band.
He joins us in this episode to talk about his epiphany moment with jazz, his music education and influences, his early cruise ship gigs, his years touring with the Maynard Ferguson band and Jason Mraz, his practice routine, and the honor of playing at Aretha Franklin’s funeral.
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“” – Geoffrey Keezer
Geoffrey Keezer
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“” – Kate McGarry
Kate McGarry
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“Find the beauty inside yourself…and say that” – Joel Frahm
Joel Frahm
In this episode we touch on the following topics:
How Covid has impacted Joel
Chick Corea and other jazz heroes
Transcription as a tool
Reclaiming the joy of playing music
What would Charlie Haden do?
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