Benny Waters
Until his death at the age of 96, Benny Waters was not only the second oldest active jazz musician (to Eubie Blake who made it to 100) but a powerful altoist who would be considered impressive if he were only 50. Waters' personal history covered virtually the entire history of recorded jazz, although he never really became a major name. He worked with Charlie Miller from 1918-1921, studied at the New England Conservatory, and became a teacher; one of his students was Harry Carney, remarkably. Waters played, arranged for, and recorded with Charlie Johnson's Paradise Ten (1925-1932), an underrated group that also for a time included Benny Carter and Jabbo Smith. Waters, who was primarily a tenor saxophonist and an occasional clarinetist during this period, was influenced to an extent by Coleman Hawkins, and he recorded with both Clarence Williams and King Oliver in the 1920s. During the next two decades, Waters played in many groups including those led by Fletcher Henderson (for a few months), Hot Lips Page, Claude Hopkins, and Jimmie Lunceford. He led his own unit during part of the 1940s, played with Roy Milton's R&B band, and in 1949 went to France with the Jimmy Archey Dixieland group. Waters settled in Paris, working steadily, although he was largely forgotten at home. By the 1980s, he was visiting the U.S. more frequently, and Waters is heard in brilliant form on a 1987 quartet set for Muse on which he plays tenor, alto, and clarinet, in addition to taking some effective vocals. A short time later he went blind and stuck exclusively to playing alto (on which he played in a jump style reminiscent of Tab Smith, that shows the occasional influence of John Coltrane). The seemingly ageless Benny Waters continued recording and performing with a remarkable amount of energy, touring with the Statesmen of Jazz in 1995 and creating some miraculous music prior to his death on August 11, 1998.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Discography
7 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
-
Birdland Birthday (Live at 95)
Mike LeDonne, Steve Blailock, Howard Alden, Ed Locke, Benny Waters, Earl May
Jazz - Released by ENJA RECORDS Matthias Winckelmann on 20 Oct 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Benny Waters–Freddy Randall Jazz Band
Jazz - Released by Jazzology on 28 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Benny Waters plays Songs of Love
Benny Waters, Charles "Red" Richards, Johnny Williams Jr., Jackie Williams, Vic Juris
Jazz - Released by Jazzpoint Records on 4 Jul 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hurry On Down
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Storyville Records on 20 Apr 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
When You're Smiling
Benny Waters, Roy Williams, Joe Temperley
Jazz - Released by Hep Records on 28 Feb 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let's Talk About Jazz
Pop - Released by G & J Records on 28 Mar 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mature Black Beauty
Christiania Jazzband, Benny Waters, Goran Eriksson
Jazz - Released by Hot Club Records on 14 Dec 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo