Bobby Watson with Reggie Thomas Trio & Special guest vocalist Mardra Thomas

Thursday, March 20, 2025 8:00 PM 20:00
Sunday, March 23, 2025 9:00 PM 21:00

Jazz Showcase 806 S Plymouth Ct Chicago United States (map)

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BOBBY WATSON

A saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator, Bobby Watson grew up in Kansas City, Kan. He trained formally at the University of Miami, a school with a distinguished and well-respected jazz program. After graduating, he proceeded to earn his “doctorate” – on the bandstand – as musical director of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. The group, created in 1955 by late legendary drummer who died in 1990, showcased a rotating cast of players, many who, like Watson, would go on to have substantial careers as bandleaders in their own right. The Jazz Messengers – frequently referred to as the “University of Blakey” – served as the ultimate “postgraduate school” for ambitious young players.

After completing a four-year-plus Jazz Messengers tenure (1977-1981) that incorporated more than a dozen recordings – the most of any of the great Jazz Messengers, the gifted Watson became a much-sought after musician, working along the way with a potpourri of notable artists – peers, elder statesmen and colleagues all -- including, but not limited to: drummers Max Roach and Louis Hayes, fellow saxophonists George Coleman and a younger Branford Marsalis, celebrated multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (who joined the Jazz Messengers at least in part at the suggestion of Watson). In addition to working with a variety of instrumentalists, Watson served in a supporting role for a number of distinguished and stylistically varied vocalists including: 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, an acoustic quintet modeled in many ways after the Jazz Messengers but one with its own distinct slightly more modern twist. Among the groups’ other talented members were pianist Ed Simon, trumpeter TereIl Stafford and bassist Essiet Okon Essiet. Clearly, by all critical accounts, Horizon, which still performs together on special occasions, is now considered as one of the preeminent small groups of the mid-1980s to mid-1990s and even into the 2000s. The group recorded several highly acclaimed titles for the Blue Note and Columbia record labels including Post-Motown Bop (Blue Note) and Midwest Shuffle, Live! (Columbia); the latter is a compendium that captured the group in concert at a number of locations in 1993.

In addition to his work with Horizon, Watson also led a nine-piece group known as the High court of Swing – a tribute to the music of Johnny Hodges – as well as the GRAMMY-nominated 16-piece, large ensemble Tailor Made Big Band. The lyrical stylist is also a founding member of the wellrespected 29th Street Saxophone Quartet, an all-horn, four-piece ensemble.

Watson’s classic 1986 release, Love Remains (Red) has long been recognized by the Penguin Guide to Jazz (Penguin). Having received the publication’s highest rating it was then identified in the ready reference book’s seventh edition as a part of its “core collection” [i.e. a “must-have”], joining other entries by a number of aforementioned jazz masters as a recording that any jazz aficionado should own.

More recently Watson issued a series of recordings on the Palmetto label. On the heels of his No. 1 releases, Live & Learn (2005) and Horizon Reassembled (2006), which brought him back together with Lewis, Stafford, Simon and Essiet, the saxophonist issued From the Heart (2008) which unveiled yet another project where he again shares the limelight with bassist Lundy. The release also went to No. 1 on the national jazz airplay chart and remained there for nine weeks.

For more than three decades now Watson has contributed consistently intelligent, sensitive and well-thought out music to the modern-day jazz lexicon. All told, Watson, the immensely talented and now-seasoned veteran, has issued some 30 recordings as a leader and appeared on 100-plus other recordings, performing as either co-leader or in support of other like-minded musicians. Not simply a performer, the saxophonist has recorded more than 100 original compositions including the music for the soundtrack of A Bronx Tale, which marked Robert DeNiro’s 1993 directorial debut. Numerous Watson compositions have become classics such as his “Time Will Tell,” “In Case You Missed It” and “Wheel within a Wheel,” each now oft-recorded titles that are interpreted by his fellow musicians both on the bandstand and on other recordings.

REGGIE THOMAS

“One of the most in demand pianists and educators in the country, Reggie Thomas’ soulful, hard-swinging brand of piano immediately grabs an audience and assures them that a swinging time is set to be had by all.” jazzstl.org

“Few jazz keyboardists have excelled at both piano and organ… On piano, Thomas shows off a sensitive touch, a rich sense of harmony and fleet single-note runs; on organ, he delivers grits, gravy and gospel in satisfying portions…” maxjazz.com

Pianist "Reggie" Thomas is based in the midwest between Chicago and St. Louis but since his recent retirement as Coordinator/Director of the internationally recognized Northern Illinois University School of Music's Jazz Studies program, he has even more liberty to spend time performing all over this country and in other parts of the world. NIU’s Jazz Orchestra has been featured at venues such as the Chicago Jazz Festival and recently was selected to perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center for the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship. Reggie came to NIU from the Michigan State University College of Music, where he served as Professor of Jazz Piano. Prior to his position at MSU, he was Professor of Music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and was SIUE's Director of Black Studies.

Reggie has performed at festivals around the world – St. Louis Jazz Festival in Senegal, West Africa; The Montreal International Jazz Festival; and The Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. He now spends a great deal of time as pianist for the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra with whom he performed at a festival before the King of Thailand and in many other parts of the world. Thomas has performed abroad in Brisbane, Calgary, London, Milan, Montreal, Poznan, Senegal, Sydney, Toronto, Trinidad and Warsaw. He has also performed across the US in cities including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.

As a recording artist Thomas has appeared as a leader or co-leader on several recordings. The most recent, Matters of the Heart (with wife Mardra), followed previous recordings Fade to Blue (Mack Avenue Records), Standard Time (Victoria) and 4 (Jazz Compass). Recordings as a sideman include Clay Jenkins’ Yellow Flowers After (Chase Music Group) and Azure Eyes (Chase Music Group), Kim Richmond’s Ballads (Chase Music Group) and Inner Spirit (Jazz Compass), Clark Terry/Mike Vax’ Creepin’ With Clark (Summit) and the MSU Professors of Jazz Better Than Alright.

Reggie remains active with some of the top institutions in jazz and music education including 2023 Juror for The American Pianist Association and recent travel to South Africa to serve as a juror for the 14th Unisa International Piano Competition 2020. Since 2018 he has served as the ensemble coach for NYO Jazz Orchestra, a national youth jazz orchestra created by The Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall and teaches for their Summer Music Educators Workshops. From 2004-16, he served as a clinician and education consultant for Jazz at Lincoln Center, working with the Essentially Ellington Program and Band Director Academy. Since 2011 he has worked with the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz (formerly the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz) serving as accompanist for the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competitions.

Thomas has directed All State Jazz Bands, Combos and Jazz Choirs in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, South Dakota and Tennessee and directed the first ever Missouri All-College Jazz Band. He has served on summer jazz faculties across the country and abroad including the IAJE Teacher Training Institute, the Birch Creek Music Center, the Eastman School of Music Summer Jazz Camp, the Summer Jazz Academy in Chodziez, Poland, the Barbican Center in London, and the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Reggie was an early recipient of the Excellence in the Arts award from the Greater St. Louis Arts and Education Council and has been named in Riverfront Times "Best of St. Louis" as Best Jazz Artist.

ERNIE ADAMS

Ernie Adams is Chicago’s own worldwide drummer. He has played with the likes of Stanley Turrentine, Clark Terry swinging hard or with Buster Williams, burning on some fusion with Larry Coryell, Al DiMeola or Anthony Jackson,

He laid down seriously funky, solid, pocket with Ramsey Lewis, Nick Colionne, DJ Shon Dervis as Furious Styles, playing a mambo with Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo Sandoval or The Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble.

Adams has covered the click track on pop, rock and radio/TV/movie score music, Ernie Adams proves why he is a world-class drummer’s drummer. Now, add to all of that his professionalism, focus, hard work and great attitude and one can see why he is an in demand musician worldwide.

DENNIS CARROLL

Dennis Carroll has played bass professionally since age 17, having studied with the great bassist Mike Barnett and the masterful pianist Russ Long in Lake Geneva at the Playboy Club Resort.

After settling in Chicago, Carroll quickly became one of the first bassist to be called by a great number of fine artists such as Bobby Broom, Eddie Harris, Eric Reed, Von Freeman, Ron Blake, Ira Sullivan, Russ Long, Johnny O’Neal, Pharaoh Sanders, Charles McPherson, Reggie Thomas, Jodie Christian, Bobby Hutcherson, Clark Terry, John Schofield, Pharoah Sanders and many more. He has recorded extensively with many of these named artists.

He’s heard in all of Chicago’s first rate jazz clubs and his musical ties and talents have taken him to clubs and festival stages all over this county and into other parts of the world including Mexico, Germany, Swierland, Austria, and Portugal.

Carroll is Professor of Jazz Bass, leading Jazz Combos for over ten years at Chicago’s DePaul’s School of Music.

He is educator and bassist for Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play Program where over 75,000 community members are served each year, ensuring that music education remains accessible to all.

Dennis Carroll is the principal bass player for the Chicago Jazz Orchestra and has been connected with this legendary organization for more than twenty years. He continues his over thirty-year affiliation with artist Bobby Broom, and other world class musicians, including playing an integral and creative role as the pulse of TRIO NEXUS with George Fludas and Reggie Thomas.

MARDRA THOMAS

Mardra Thomas’ singing and acting career went into full swing after opening for Dizzy Gillespie’s 70th birthday celebration. For more than twenty years she has been the featured vocalist with the Birch Creek Academy Jazz Orchestra and is often heard with The Legendary Chicago Jazz Orchestra. She tours with ensembles such as Trio Nexus and The Reggie Thomas Ensemble with whom she has recorded “Fade To Blue” and “Matters Of The Heart”.

Mardra Thomas is seen on theater, concert and club stages all over. She has portrayed central characters in works that include Having Our Say, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, The Chicago Trilogy, Crowns, Thirty, Front Porch Society, Pocketbook Monologues, Daydream-The Life Of Billy Strayhorn and Mama. Mardra was nominated for Chicago’s “Best Leading Actress Lena Horne Award”, for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in the Fleetwood Jourdain production of Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill.