Elementary, my dear Watson
July 10th, 2009 at 6:15 am
Bobby Watson performs a tune. Watson will play in Fayetteville on Saturday (July 11).
Technically, Bobby Watson does not have an actual doctorate degree in jazz music. After going through three decades as a renowned alto saxophonist, though, he certainly can qualify for a few honorary degrees.
These days, Watson’s day job consists of directing the jazz department at the University of Missouri — Kansas City. He still, though, makes a point of traveling on a regular basis to different gigs across the globe. On Saturday (July 11), Watson’s travels will bring him to the Arkansas Union Theater at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville for an 8 p.m. show as a part of the KUAF Summer Jazz Series.
Watson, who will perform in a quartet, recently took time to chat with the Northwest Arkansas Times about topics such as how he came to move back to his homeland after living in New York City for 25 years and how he became involved with Art Blakey’s prestigious Jazz Messengers. That story can be viewed here.
Tickets for the show are $20/public and $15/North Arkansas Jazz Society members. They are available at the jazz society’s Web site. Students can get in free with an ID.