Curtis Lundy Trio with guest Bobby Watson

Recorded on 4/7/22

Curtis Lundy, bass
Allyn Johnson, piano
Eric Kennedy, drums
special guest
Bobby Watson, saxophone

Born in 1955, is a double bassist, composer, producer, choir director, and arranger. Lundy began his musical career in the All Miami Youth Jazz Band and was classically trained at the University of Miami under the tutelage of renowned bassist Dr. Lucas Drew. He has studied privately with Cecil McBee, Linda McKnight, Jaco Pastorius, and Ron Carter. Best-known for his work as part of jazz vocalist Betty Carter’s band, Lundy made his debut on the New York jazz scene in 1978. Over the years he has performed with an impressive list of musicians, including Art Blakely, John Griffin, Freddie Hubbard, Paroah Sanders, John Hicks, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, George Coleman, Clark Terry, Sam Rivers, the Savoy Sultans, Bobby Watsom, Stanley Turnetine, Idris Mohamed, Steve Nelson Quintet, Mulgrew Miller, Hammiet Bluiet, Don Pullen, Elvin Jones, Hank Jones, Sonny Stitt, Jon Faddis, Hilton Ruiz, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Phyllis Hyman, Lionel Hampton, Phineas Newborn, Johnny Hartman, Charlie Persip, Louis Hayes, Bobby Hutcherson, Barry Harris, and Frank Morgam.

In the late 1980’s, he issued Just Be Yourself (1989) and a decade later, with Justin Time Records, he released Against All Odds (1999) followed by Purpose (2002). Lundy remains one of the most spiritually uplifting bassists on the jazz scene today. He is featured on the G-Three recording SWIFT with Billy Robinson on sax, Stacie McGregor on piano, and Billy Hart on drums. Lundy’s arrangement on “Walk With Me,” recorded by the ARC Gospel Choir, was sampled by rapper Kanye West and became the Grammy Award-winning hit “Jesus Walks.” This arrangement was also sampled in “This is Why I’m Hot” by Shawn Mims.

GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist, composer, producer and educator Bobby Watson trained formally at the University of Miami and earned his doctorate as musical director of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, the ultimate postgraduate school for ambitious young players. 

Later, in association with bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis, Watson launched the first edition of Horizon, the highly acclaimed acoustic quintet. He has also led the High Court of Swing (a tribute to the music of Johnny Hodges), The Tailor-Made Big Band and is a founding member of the  29th Street Saxophone Quartet. Watson wrote original music for the soundtrack of Robert DeNiro's directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. He has over 26 records as a leader and appears on more than 80 others.

More than 100 of his compositions have been recorded. After a string of recordings for the Palmetto label, Watson released a pair of self-produced titles. The Gates BBQ Suite celebrates his hometown's most famous food and the one-time family business, and serves as a vehicle for the University of Missouri-Kansas City jazz students who participate in the school's Watson-directed program. His most recent release, Check Cashing Day, celebrates the Civil Rights Movement in general and more specifically, the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King's famed I Have A Dream speech.

In 2000, Watson was awarded first William and Mary Grant Missouri Professor of Jazz as an endowed chair. The position encompasses Watson's directorship of the conservatory's aforementioned Jazz Studies Program. He has received a number of well-deserved awards recognizing his musical contributions during what is now a four-decade career.

Streaming cost is $15
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