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Bobby Watson
Keynote Speaker
Director of Jazz Studies, University of Missouri/Kansas City Conservatory of Music
A saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator, Bobby Watson trained formally at the University of Miami and then earned his “doctorate” as musical director of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the ultimate “postgraduate school” for ambitious young players. Along the way, he worked with such notable jazz artists as Max Roach, Louis Hayes, George Coleman, Sam Rivers and Wynton and Branford Marsalis, as well as vocalists Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Lou Rawls, Betty Carter and Carmen Lundy.
Later, in association with bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis, Watson launched the first edition of Horizon, his acoustic quintet. He has also led the High Court of Swing (a tribute to the music of Johnny Hodges), The Tailor-Made Big Band and is a founding member of the highly acclaimed 29th Street Saxophone Quartet. Watson also wrote original music for the sound track of Robert De Niro’s directorial debut “A Bronx Tale.”
Watson has recorded 26 records as a leader and appears on over 80 recordings to date. He has over 100 compositions recorded, and his long time publisher, Second Floor Music, publishes many of his original combo and big band arrangements. His latest project recorded on Palmetto records is entitled “Live and Learn.” Bobby was a member of the adjunct faculty and taught private saxophone at William Patterson University from 1985-1986 and Manhattan School of Music from 1996-1999.
In 2000, Watson was awarded the first William and Mary Grant/Missouri Professor of Jazz endowed professorship in jazz and serves as the director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri/Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
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