Eric Watson (born July 5, 1955) is a US-American jazz pianist and composer living in France.
After graduating from Oberlin Conservatory Watson moved to Paris. In 1982 he completed his first trio recording with Paul Motian and Ed Schuller (Conspiracy) followed by two solo albums. Since then he worked in a long-time duo with doublebass player John Lindberg which became extended with Albert Mangelsdorff and Ed Thigpen.[1] Watson also worked with Steve Lacy,[2] with Linda Sharrock and with Joëlle Léandre (Palimpseste, 1991). His Trio with Mark Dresser and Ed Thigpen (Silent Hearts, 1998) was the basis for the "Full Metal Quartets" (1999/2000) with saxophone player Bennie Wallace. His solo piano recording Sketches of Solitude (2002) became one of the best-selling jazz albums in France. In 2003 and 2005 he toured in Europa, Asia, and Australia with Christof Lauer.
His dance score The Peking Ballet was commissioned by Radio City Music Hall and seen by 200,000 people during the summer of 1984, while multi-concert series of his music have been presented by the Lyon Opera and the State Theater in Poitiers. His numerous commissions include Martial Arts (1986) written for Martial Solal and the Orchestre National de Jazz (French National Jazz Orchestra) and Bénévoles, written for the Australian violinist Jane Peters.
In 2001, Watson was appointed artistic director of La Villette Jazz Festival, and musical consultant to the director of the Cité de la Musique, Laurent Bayle. In 2003 he was appointed as a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
Memories of Paris, en solo, - Out note, 2010 Midnight torsion, avec E. Caron, R. Huby et C. Tchamitchian - émouvance, 2009 Road Movies, avec C. Lauer, C. Tchamitchian et C. Marguet - Act, 2004 Sketchs of solitude, en solo - Night bird, 2002 Full metal quartet, avec E. Thigpen, B. Wallace et M. Dresser - Owl records, 2000 Silent hearts, avec M. Dresser et E. Thigpen - Free flights, 1999 Punk Circus, avec J. Lindberg et E. Thigpen - Freelance, 1994 Listen to the night, en duo avec L. Sharrock - OwlRecords, 1994 Palimpseste, en duo avec J. Léandre - Hat Art, 1991 Spirit of Mingus, en duo avec S. Lacy - Freelance, 1991 Charles Ives - Oeuvres pour piano - Accord, 1991 Your tonight is my tomorrow, avec S. Lacy, J-P Celea et A. Scott - Owl records, 1987 Child in the sky, en solo - Owl records, 1985 Conspiracy, avec P. Motian et E. Schuller - Owl records, 1982 Bulls blood, en solo - Owl records, 1980
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