Recorded at Maggie’s Farm early in 2007, From the Heart features original compositions by Bobby Watson, as well as compositions by bandmates Harold O’Neal and Warren Wolf. The Live & Learn band also includes Curtis Lundy, Leron Thomas, and Quincy Davis.
Bobby Watson says: “The interaction between the old and the young jazz musicians have been vital to the development of jazz and have produced both innovative and profound music over the past century. Today, we stand on the shoulders of that system of mentoring and apprenticeship.”
On From the Heart, Bobby Watson and Live & Learn continue the tradition of apprenticeship started by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The collaboration between these young lions and veteran musicians serves as an example of the mentoring process that has become the backbone of jazz.
Matt Balitsaris says: “Bobby is one of those rare artists whose sound is so distinctive that you can immediately tell when somebody else is emulating him. He has an enormous sound and he plays with absolute conviction. The amazing thing is that he's become such an icon and yet he's still a relatively young man, still in the prime of his career.”
Bobby Watson consistently tops the critics’ music polls. He commands every style of music from free jazz to hard bop to swing. Watson is one of the finest players of his generation, sporting an individual sound and a GRAMMY® nomination.
Mark Sabbatini says at Allaboutjazz.com: “Watson's been recording for three decades, yet possesses some of the most forward-thinking playing and finest tones of any current-day alto player.”
A graduate of the “University of Blakey” (The Jazz Messengers), Bobby Watson has 26 recordings as a leader. Other releases on Palmetto Records include Horizon Reassembled and Live and Learn.
