David Watson (British musician)

David Watson
David Watson performing at the Royal Festival Hall, December 2013
Background information
Born London, England
Occupation(s) Record producer, singer, guitarist, songwriter
Associated acts Three Pilgrims, Paul Wassif, Mark Abis, Sam Sallon

David Watson is a British record producer, singer and musician. Born and raised in North London, he has produced albums for Paul Wassif, Sam Sallon, Dylan Howe and Claudia Brücken, and has worked with musicians such as Neil Cowley, Eric Clapton and Bert Jansch.

As a producer

In 2006 Watson recorded and produced Translation Volume 1 – Live in Soho by the Dylan Howe Quintet with Dylan Howe, and the album was released to critical acclaim.[1][2][3][4]

In 2009 Watson began work on an album by Blues/Folk guitarist Paul Wassif which features musicians Eric Clapton and Bert Jansch. The album Looking Up Feeling Down was recorded in London's Metropolis Studios, and was released in 2011 on Black Brown & White.[5] It turned out to be Jansch's last appearance on a record before his death in October that year.

Along with Paul Humphreys of British electro band OMD, Watson produced German electropop singer Claudia Brücken's live retrospective album This Happened in 2012. The album was recorded and filmed at the Scala in London's King's Cross, and features guest appearances from Heaven 17, Andy Bell, Andrew Poppy and Propaganda.[6]

Watson worked for over two years on singer-songwriter Sam Sallon's debut album One for the Road which was released in 2013 on Indigo-Octagon. The album features contributions from The Rails singer Kami Thompson, guitarist Paul Wassif and pianist Neil Cowley. Mojo Magazine praised the album as "a finely crafted debut",[7] while Maverick Magazine called it "a potential album of the year".[8]

As a performer

Watson has performed and recorded with many various artists and groups. In July 2004 he sang the Italian piece "L' Ombra della Luce" by Franco Battiato with the Remasterpiece Orchestra featuring Chris Coco and Sasha Puttnam headlining at The Big Chill festival.[9]

Watson sang with Claudia Brücken at her career retrospective concert This Happened in March 2011.[6] The CD and DVD was released on There (There) in 2012, and he subsequently toured as a member of Brücken's band in the UK and Europe.[10] In 2013 Watson contributed backing vocals to OMD's English Electric album.[11]

In December 2013, Watson performed and sang with Paul Wassif at the concert "A Celebration of Bert Jansch" at London's Royal Festival Hall alongside Robert Plant, Lisa Knapp, Donovan and various members of Pentangle, amongst others.[12][13] The concert was broadcast by BBC Four in the UK on 28 March 2014 under the name The Genius of Bert Jansch: Folk Blues and Beyond.

He is currently a member of Blues/Folk trio, Three Pilgrims, with Mark Abis and Paul Wassif.[14]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Dylan Howe Quintet Translation Volume 1 Live in Soho". Themonostery.com. 28 August 2006. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  2. ↑ "Other pop releases: Jul 30 | Music | The Observer". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  3. ↑ London Evening Standard, Jazz CD of the week; published by Jack Massarik; August 2006
  4. ↑ "Dylan Howe". Dylan Howe. 14 November 2004. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  5. ↑ "The Home of Black Brown & White Records". Blackbrownandwhite.com. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Claudia Brücken – This Happened (DVD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  7. ↑ Mojo Magazine; Issue 239; page 98; published October 2013
  8. ↑ Maverick Magazine; Issue 121; page 88; published July/August 2013
  9. ↑ "The Big Chill 2004 Line Up". Virtualfestivals.com. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  10. ↑ "Claudia Brücken Review". Brighton Source. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  11. ↑ "English Electric – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Credits". AllMusic. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  12. ↑ Kitty Empire. "A Celebration of Bert Jansch – review | Music | The Observer". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  13. ↑ Alex Gallacher (25 March 2014). "Bert Jansch on BBC 4 Friday (28th March) | Folk Radio UK". Folkradio.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  14. ↑ Helen Gregory. "Beverley Martyn @ Bush Hall, 29 April 2014 | Folk Radio UK". Folkradio.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-16.