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James Watson
Born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, James began playing
the piano at the age of 7. He underwent
classical training,then studied harmony at Clarendon Music College.
After completing his A-levels in 1992, he decided to
study at the Leeds College
of Music where he obtained a first class BA Honours
degree in Jazz and
Contemporary Music, studying piano with Nikki Iles.
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. He
rapidly started to find work on the London jazz
scene,and soon began playing
with a variety of musicians, an association that has
continued to this day James has played with
many different musicians both nationally and internationally.
He is a regular member of Gerard Presencer's
‘Platypus’, the Dave O’Higgins Band,
the Geoff Gascoyne Quartet , has performed with Guy Barker's’
international quintet’, the Clark Tracey quartet , the Jean Toussaint
band and has performed with, among others , Jim
Mullen, Peter King, Art Themen, Alan Barnes,
Bobby Watson, Dale Barlow, James Moody (with whom he
toured Spain), and Javon Jackson.
More commercial work includes tours and recordings with
Omar, The James Taylor Quartet , Us3 ,’Incognito’, jazz-funk outfit ’Akimbo’(featuring
members of primal-scream + brand new heavies) and ‘GrooveJam’.
James appears on 'The Grinders Monkey' with Dave
O' Higgins, 'The Optimist' by Gerard Presencer(Linn records) ,'Bums rush'
featuring Jim Mullen and Mornington Lockett, '47
Frith St' by NYJO, and Incognito's
forthcoming album.
James was nominated for the 1998 BT jazz awards in the
rising star category, won the best soloist prize
in the 'Europe Jazz Contest' (Jazz Hoeillart) held
in Belgium in 1996 and was the overall winner of the 'Worshipful Company
Of Musicians' award in 1997.
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