Biography of Jim Watson

‘Stunning young pianist'-1997 Soho jazz festival

‘Classy jazz pianist'- Time Out 2001

‘Internationally renowned' -John Lewis,Time Out

‘Convincing....His McCoy Tyner like percussive chords and torrential right hand lines was a standout' -John Fordham,The Guardian

‘Mellifluous piano'-Clive Davis,The Sunday Times

‘Inestimable'-Jazzwise Magazine

‘One of the most talented pianists in the country'-606 club

‘Acclaimed' Jars magazine Ronnie scotts club

‘a real piano player’- Georgie Fame

Born in Mansfield, Notts, Jim Studied at the Leeds College of Music where he obtained a first class BA Honours degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music,studying piano with Nikki Isles.
After Leeds he moved to London,studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama,where he gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Jazz and Studio music, studying,among others,with pianists Simon Purcell and John Taylor.

Jims first recording for Reese Records marks an important step for him and the trio, Orlando Le Fleming(Branford Marsalis, Jane Monheit) and Tristan Mailliot(Stan Tracey,Acoustic Alchemy,Tina May), containing a selection of originals and also reworkings of more familiar material.

Jim has worked internationally with a wide variety of artists, both jazz and otherwise.He is currently working primarily with singer songwriter Katie Melua, and has recorded an album of originals with Marti Pellow(wet,wet,wet) He is also working with the BBC Big band and the Guy Barker International Septet. In total, he has performed/collaborated with the following


Oceans 11 (film soundtrack) Katie Melua, Zero 7, Marti Pellow, Lalo Schfrin, Guy Barker International Septet Gary Moore, Brand New Heavies, Joy Zipper, Incognito(world tour) US3(european tour), James Taylor Quartet, Bud Shanks Patti Austin(Berghausen Jazz Festival),Ann Hampton Calloway ,Platypus'(Gerard Presencer), Jim Watson Trio, The Organ trio,(Jim Mullen), New York voices, Bobby Watson, James Moody (tour of spain) Javon Jackson, Herb Geller,Claire Martin, Pat Kane(Hue and Cry), Jill Scott (Mobo awards), Dave O' Higgins Julian Arguelles Quartet, Omar (Montreux Jazz Festival),BBC big band, Clark Tracey, Alan Barnes, Peter King, Jean Toussaint.


Awards

James was nominated for the ‘1998 BT Jazz Awards' in the rising star category,won the ‘Best Soloist Prize' in the ‘Europ Jazz contest(Jazz Hoeilaart) held in Belgium in 1996,and was the overall winner of the ‘Worshipful Company of Musicians' award in 1997.