The Squid's Ear Magazine


Watts, Heath / M.J. Williams / Nancy Owens / Blue Armstrong : Sensoria (Leo Records)

Saxophonist Heath Watts' 3rd Leo release is an album of free improvisation with three Montana jazz mavens--Blue Armstrong on double bass, MJ Williams on trombone, piano & melodica, and Nancy Owens on violin--in nine recordings of sophisticated and intelligent interaction that naturally evolves new directions of irrepressibly enjoyable and diverse conversation.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Blue Armstrong-double bass

Heath Watts-soprano saxophone, voice

MJ Williams-trombone, piano, melodica, voice

Nancy Owens-violin


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UPC: 5024792083121

Label: Leo Records
Catalog ID: LEOR831.2
Squidco Product Code: 25813

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2018
Country: UK
Packaging: Jewel Case
Recorded by Brandi Watts.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The free improvisations of Watts, Williams, Owens, and Armstrong provide a mixture of intensity, subtlety, lushness, and beauty on Sensoria that will reward repeated listening. Following the critical acclaim of Bright Yellow With Bass (LR 758), Sensoria is Heath Watts' third release on Leo Records and his first release with a quartet. These improvisations are simultaneously delicate and intense. They requiry deep listening, communication, empathy and selflessness. This was a leaderless session; each musician brought her or his experiences, methods and ideas to the summit, but each was willing to compromise instantaneously to make the improvisation stronger."-Leo


Artist Biographies

Blue Armstrong is a Philadelphia bassist, known for his duo work with saxophonist Heath Watts.

-Squidco 3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Heath Watts is a soprano saxophonist living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who specializes in free improvisation and free jazz. He has released three albums on Leo Records, Sensoria, Bright Yellow With Bass, and Breathe If You Can. Roeba Records released Philadelphia Company #1 in 2007 with Watts, drummer Dan Pell, and guitarist Barry Chabala. He has also self-released the album 2x with pianist Alexandra Swaney in 2007.

A soprano saxophone specialist, Heath includes Steve Lacy, John Coltrane, Evan Parker, David Liebman, and Lol Coxhill among his major influences. While learning to play the soprano saxophone, he relied heavily on the pedagogical materials of NEA Jazz Master David Liebman. Heath has had the opportunity to perform with David Liebman, Sam Newsome, Vinny Golia, Andrew Cyrille, Marc Helias Andrew Raffo Dewar, Jack Wright, François Grillot, Jay Rosen, Michael Szekely, and Matt Lavelle.

This web site will provide you the opportunity to hear and purchase tracks and albums from Heath's discography. In addition, you can follow his performance schedule, see concert footage, and see concert photos. There will also be a blog section where he will share his insights about practicing and taming the soprano saxophone and improvisation. Heath considers this site to be an opportunity to connect with those of you who enjoy his music and would like to know more about him and his work."

-Heath Watts Website (https://heathwatts.com/bio)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"MJ Williams, vocalist, trombonist, Montana native and co-founder of the Montana Artists Refuge (an artist residency program for artists of all genres), has played for several decades in clubs and festivals, locally, regionally, and internationally. During her career she has performed at The Bellevue Jazz Festival, Bumbershoot Jazz Festival, The New York City Women in Jazz Festival and was a member of the Tappan Roberti Quintet featured on Montana Public Television's 11th and Grant Series. Williams performed starting in 2004 at the now legendary Le Sept Lezards jazz club and the Atelier de la Main d'Or both in Paris France. She has done performances there in other clubs as well and continues to spend time studying and watercoloring there.

In 2010 she released a CD of original music with Paris musicians Amy Gamlen, Jobic LeMasson, John Betsch and Peter Giron. The CD includes compositions by Williams, Gamlen and LeMasson. MJ received a grant from the Myrna Loy Center's grants to artists committee (Helena, MT, USA) to record this project, entitled: Trance Atlantic, the MJ Williams Paris Project. In 2011 Williams was invited to spend a week in residence in the Dept. of Theatre, Performance Studies and Dance at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta Georgia where she led a series of improvisation workshops. In 2013 MJ wrote a score for Mary Ellen Strom's two channel video installation at the Longhouse Projects Gallery in New York City. In November of 2015 Williams performed a concert of jazz standards at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana with pianist Bob Packwood.

MJ Williams has recorded with Kelly Roberti and Ann Tappan as "The Tappan, Roberti, Williams Trio" and the "MJ Williams Trio". Williams and Tappan worked together with bassist Rob Kohler to produce CD's as the trio "Threeform"."

-MJ William Website (http://mj-williams-music.com/bio/)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Nancy Owens is a Philadelphia based violinist known for her work with Heath Watts.

-Squidco 3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Slow Weave 5:29

2. Vim 6:25

3. Festooned 7:09

4. Parallels And Polarities 9:29

5. Kif-Kif 4:03

6. Time Release 6:40

7. Quick, It Catches 5:59

8. Frenergy 3:46

9. Such Falls Softly 8:12

Related Categories of Interest:


Leo Records
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Quartet Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
Leo Records.


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The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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