Bill Watrous (undated photograph)

William Russell Watrous III is a professional jazz trombonist. He is perhaps best known by casual fans of jazz music for his rendition of Sammy Nestico's arrangement of the Johnny Mandel ballad "A Time for Love," which he recorded on a 1993 album of the same name. A self-described "bop-oriented" player, he is well known among fellow trombonists as a master technician and for his mellifluous sound. Image File history File links BillWatrousPromoPhoto. ... Image File history File links BillWatrousPromoPhoto. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... A trombonist is a musician who plays the trombone. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Sammy Nestico Samuel Sammy Lewis Nestico (born February 6, 1924 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a prolific and well known composer and arranger of big band music. ... Johnny Mandel (born 23 November 1925 in New York) is an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. ...

Biography

Watrous was born on June 8, 1939 in Middletown, Connecticut. He was introduced to the jazz trombone at an early age by his father, also a trombonist. While serving in the military, Watrous studied with jazz pianist and composer Herbie Nichols. His first professional performances were in Billy Butterfield's band. Nickname: Forest City Coordinates: NECTA Hartford Region Midstate Region Incorporated (town) 1651 Incorporated (city) 1784 Consolidated 1923 Government type Mayor-council Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano Area    - City 42. ... Herbie Nichols (1919–1963) was an American jazz pianist and composer. ...

Watrous' career blossomed in the 1960s. He played and recorded with many jazz luminaries, including Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Quincy Jones, Johnny Richards, and fellow trombonist Kai Winding. He also played in the house band on the Merv Griffin Show from 1965 - 1968. Walter Maynard Ferguson (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpet player and bandleader. ... Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987), better known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. ... Quincy Delight Jones Jr. ... Kai Chresten Winding (May 18, 1922-May 6, 1983) was a popular trombonist and jazz composer. ... The Merv Griffin Show was a long-running American television talk show, starring singer Merv Griffin. ...

In 1971, he played with the jazz fusion group Ten Wheel Drive. Also in the 1970s, Watrous formed his own band, "The Manhattan Wildlife Refuge Big Band," and recorded two albums with the band on the Columbia Records label. The band was later renamed "Refuge West" when Watrous relocated to southern California. Bitches Brew (1970) by Miles Davis is considered the most influential early fusion album. ... Ten Wheel Drive were an American Jazz-Rock/Fusion-Band from 1968 to 1974. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ...

He has continued to work actively since the 1980s as a band leader, studio musician, and performing at various jazz clubs. In 1983, Watrous published Trombonisms, an instructional manual covering various performance techniques for the trombone. He has recorded as a solo artist, band leader and in various small ensembles on a number of different labels. These recordings include an 2001 album with Carl Fontana, whom Watrous has cited as his favorite trombonist. He also travels to San Diego periodically to play with his good friend and former student, Dave Scott, a noted jazz musician himself and KUSI-TV broadcast host. Carl Fontana (July 18, 1928 - October 9, 2003) was a jazz trombonist. ...

Watrous has resided in the Los Angeles, California area since the late 1970s with his wife Mary Ann. Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State California County Los Angeles County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ...

Selected recordings

1970s

• 'Bone Straight Ahead (Famous Door, 1973)
• Manhattan Wildlife Refuge (Columbia, 1974)
• The Tiger of San Pedro (Columbia, 1975)
• Funk 'n Fun (Yupiteru, 1979)
• Watrous in Hollywood (Famous Door, 1979)

1980s and 1990s

• Coronary Trombossa! (Famous Door, 1980)
• I'll Play for You (Famous Door, 1980)
• La Zorra (Famous Door, 1980)
• Bill Watrous In London (Mole Jazz, 1982)
• Roaring Back to New York, New York (Famous Door, 1983)
• Bill Watrous and Carl Fontana (Atlas Records, 1984)
• The Best of Bill Watrous (Famous Door, 1985)
• Someplace Else (Soundwings, 1986)
• Reflections (Soundwings, 1987)
• Bone-Ified (GNP Crescendo, 1992)
• Time for Love (GNP Crescendo, 1993)
• Space Available (Double Time Jazz, 1997)

Since 2000

• Live at the Blue Note (Halfnote Records, 2000)
• 'Bone Straight Ahead (Progressive International, 2001); re-release of the 1973 original
• Living in the Moment with The Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra (Sea Breeze Records, 2003)
• Live in Living Comfort (Stonequake Recordings, 2003)
• Mad to the Bone with The Rob Stoneback Big Band (Stonequake Recordings, 2003)
• Kindred Spirits with The Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra (Summit, 2006)

External links

• Official site