A true jazz legend and Grammy-nominated saxophonist brings his acclaimed quartet to The Side Door

Bobby Watson – Alto Saxophone
Curtis Lundy – Bass
Jordan Williams – Piano
Victor Jones – Drums

Bobby Watson sits among the pantheon of present day jazz greats. Born in Lawrence, Kansas and raised in Kansas City, Watson trained formally at the University of Miami, where his classmates included Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, and Bruce Hornsby. After graduating in 1975, he moved to New York City and became musical director of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from 1977 to 1981, contributing to 14 Jazz Messengers recordings, more than any other musician in the group’s 35 year history. He went on to work with jazz icons Max Roach, Louis Hayes, George Coleman, and Sam Rivers, along with legendary vocalists Joe Williams, Lou Rawls, Betty Carter, Dianne Reeves, and Carmen Lundy.

In the late 1980s, Watson launched his acclaimed acoustic quintet Horizon alongside bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis, releasing a string of now classic recordings for Blue Note and Columbia. As a leader he has released nearly 30 albums and appeared on over 100 more as a sideman or co-leader, along with composing more than 100 original works, including music for the soundtrack of Robert De Niro’s directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. He is also a founding member of the celebrated 29th Street Saxophone Quartet. A devoted educator, Watson served as the first William D. and Mary Grant Distinguished Professor in Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, transforming the program into one of the finest in the country over his 20 year tenure. His many honors include induction into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, the Benny Golson Jazz Masters Award from Howard University, and selection as one of the first inductees into Kansas City’s 18th and Vine Jazz Walk of Fame, alongside Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Mary Lou Williams, and Pat Metheny.

Joining Watson is his longtime musical partner Curtis Lundy on bass, along with pianist Jordan Williams and drummer Victor Jones, an ensemble of extraordinary depth and history. This is a rare and unforgettable opportunity to hear a true jazz legend in an intimate setting.

The Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT. Tickets are reserved seating. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn prior to the show receive 10% off their dinner bill.