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Spirit House is the first CD release by drummer Wally Gator Watson, known for his work with a number musical luminaries. There is a soothing blend of songs in the jazz genre that are pleasing to drummers and non-drummers alike. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:2005 Nov. 18-20: With the Cab Calloway Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Hall, Dallas Texas 22-27: With the Cab Calloway Orchestra, Cotton Club Tokyo, Japan December 7th:At the Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC 11th: With the band STUFF, at Mexicali Blues, Teaneck, NJ 17th: With the Jay Rodriguez band at the Blue Note, NYC Wally Gator Watson is a powerhouse when it comes to playing the drums. This talent has lead his client list to include names such as Whitney Houston, Ashford & Simpson, and the wicked Wilson Pickett. His years as the driving force behind the Lionel Hampton Big Band, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Band, and the Cab Calloway Orchestra have made him one of the front runners of Big Band drumming. Having entered the professional entertainment field at age 15, Gator is celebrating more than 30 years in the business. His experience as a drummer and a clinician has touched upon every aspect of the business - from the famed New York City nightclub scene, to the Broadway Theater venues. His career spans radio, TV, and film (both as a player and an air personality), to the most famed concert halls and arenas in the world - all while touring with some of the most well known and respected names in music. Gator has recorded a tribute album to Hamp, "Together in Spirit," with his new band, A Trio of Four, with co-band members Christian Fabian on bass, and Kuni Mikami on piano. Gator is also the C.E.O. of a nonprofit organization, E.E. M.C.D., Inc., through which he presents drum clinics and motivational seminars to students and teachers around the world. (www.eemcd.org) Wally Gator Watsons performance credits include: PHILICIA RASHAD.( Cosby show) THE LIONEL HAMPTON ORCHESTRA (BBjive@aol.com) DAVID COPPERFIELD -Tornado of Fire C.B.S.TV Special Carson Daly - MTV WHITNEY HOUSTON BOBBY BROWN ANGELA BOWFIELD THE DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM SAM HARRIS THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA THE DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA RANDY BRECKER DEEDEE BRIDGEWATER BENNY GOLSON HANK JONES CARRIE SMITH FREDDIE COLE KAIKO MATSUI JOE WILLIAMS LIL' JIMMY SCOTT HARRY SWEETS EDISON AL JARREAU DIZZY GILLESPIE WELDON IRVINE AL GREY THE CONDOLI BROTHERS CLAUDIO RODITI ASHFORD & SIMPSON MICHAEL McELROY & THE BROADWAY INSPIRATIONAL VOICES GRADY TATE ESTHER SATTERFIELD LOU RAWLS SANDRA REAVES The Late Great Ladies of Blues And Jazz WILSON PICKETT JACKIE WILSON BEN E. KING JERRY BUTLER CHUCK JACKSON MILLIE JACKSON JULIE BUDD THE SPOKANE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JIM MARTINEZ LIBERACE JERRY JEMMOTT www.jerryjemmott.com THE FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Tony award winner LILLIAS WHITE (www.Lillias.com) STUFF Featuring Gordine Edwards & Cornell Dupree Grammy nominee CARLA COOK ONAJE ALLEN GUMBS DEBRA RATH L.L. COOL J JENNIFER LEWIS DJ LITE SARAH DASH THEATER CREDITS INCLUDE: BOB FOSSE'S DANCIN' (Bob Fosse) DREAMGIRLS (Michael Bennett) THE WIZ I LOVE MY WIFE CHESS YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH GOD FILM CREDITS INCLUDE: SOUL TO SOUL -performing with Wilson Pickett THE FISH THAT SAVED PITTSBURGH - with Jonathan Winters FORT APACHE THE BRONX - with Paul Newman ____________________________________________________________ Wally Gator Watson endorses the following manufacturers and their products for their quality and design. (wally@wallygator.net) ____________________________________________________________ PROMARK DRUM STICKS: www.promark-stix.com Hey, check out my video interview from NAMM 2000 on their website...And if you missed my live Internet chat with PROMARK, you can view the entire chat by clicking this link www.worldwithoutborders.com/archives/wallygator0700.shtml What good is a castle if there is no bridge with which to cross the water surrounding it, or, how do I get my spirit into the spirit house of my instrument? In the case of drums, PROMARK drum stick company has bridged that gap through the use of top quality woods and time proven design. How many times have you picked up a stick and just said, "Ugh nasty?" My biggest complaint through the years has been lack of consistency. PROMARK has dealt with the problems of warpage, balance, and density, and has allowed me to focus on creativity. They deliver what we all need most - Talent enhancement. I use: Acid Jazz Model & 720 Intruder Model TB-6 brushes Mallets, Tubes, and Hotrod multi-rod sticks ___________________________________________________________ SONOR DRUMS: www.sonor.de Rosewood Sonic Plus model in the following sizes 8", 10", 12", 14",16" Toms 22" bass drum It was after visiting the farm -- like factory in the countryside of Germany, about two hours from Koln, that I understood my affection toward SONOR drums. There is an atmosphere of nurturing in their factory that stands out in the quality of their drums. My spirit fits nicely into this spirit house and I am sure yours will too! ____________________________________________________________ SABIAN CYMBALS: www.sabian.com 12" AAX Splash, 14" Sizzle Hats, 14" Fusion Hats, 17" & 18" AAXplosion crashes, 18" AAX flat Chinese pang, 21" AAX Stage ride, 22" HH-Suspended ride As a player of all different types of music, I need an instrument that has the ability to cover a vast array of colors, tones, and dynamic ranges, and since I am not always afforded the luxury of a drum tech, I need to limit the number of cymbals that I carry. SABIAN has met this challenge for me with the setup that I now have. For the first time in my career people are asking, "What type of cymbals are you using?" "They sound great!" It's nice to have a voice to match your style. ____________________________________________________________ DIGGIT STICKWEIGHTS: www.diggit.net There are times when warming up is not practical. At home late at night or on the bus or plane going from one place to another. Lets face it, tapping out patterns on even the most quite of pads can be as annoying to someone trying to snooze as a horn player on a mission to Mars. The people at DIGGIT STICKWEIGHTS have taken a concept used by baseball players and applied it to drumming -- a weight that attaches to your sticks or brushes and lets you warm up effectively using the air. Check out their Ads in fine drum magazines, such as Modern Drummer, and check their quality products in your favorite music stores. ____________________________________________________________ RTOM CORPORATION www.rtom.com I would like to thank Richard Sacher of RTOM Corporation, makers of those famous MOON GELS and other talent enhancement products, for their invitation to become an endorser. They have listened to an idea of mine and are developing an innovative product that is going to blow you away. Check back with me for an update. ____________________________________________________________ REMO Drum heads: www.remo.com I am sure you have heard the phrase, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Well, I found this to be the truth when it comes to REMO heads. After about 10 years of using REMO, I said to myself, "Self, You need to change your sound." So I started to experiment with other heads. This was the best thing I could have done. I would compare this to not knowing how good a family member is until you lose them. I was able to hear just how good my REMO sound was, now that it was gone. In this case however, I was able to go back and recapture my true voice -- that great REMO sound. So, for the last 20 years it's been REMO heads and me. We are family. ____________________________________________________________ E-PAD (www.epadco.com) This portable practice pad features a fully adjustable web and Velcro leg strap that can fit around my big leg. It stays where you put it and its unique playing surface provides a great work out. I have also just received my new E-PAD practice pad. Now I can have the same benefit of the knee pad behind my drum kit. These new pads are also great for quite practice on the kit. You feel the burn, as the body builders would say. ____________________________________________________________ SLUG BASS DRUM BEATERS www.slugdrums.com I have just finished field testing the new Slug bass drum beaters given to me by Eric Behrenfeld at the recent P. A. S. I. C. convention in Dallas, TX. I must say I was a bit skeptical of the rotating beater head at first, but I have really enjoyed the sound and power it adds to my kick. I find switching from the felt padded side for ballads to the hard plastic side for funk and big band numbers to be a great touch. Slug - the name ain't pretty, but man, what a voice! ____________________________________________________________ TRIGGER HEADS www.triggerhead.com I was introduced to the Triggerheads at last year's NAMM 2000. The thought of being able to play triggers on my own drums, without the sound (and volume) of my drums disturbing the people living next door to my NY apartment, was music to my ears! Sometimes you get an idea in the middle of the night, and you know if you wait till morning to try to work it out it will be gone. These Triggerheads, which can connect to any sound module, or midi-controller are great. Check out their site and try a set for yourself. Tell them Gator sent you. ____________________________________________________________ Check out the artist's website: http://www.wally-gator-watson.com Track List: 1. Take Five 2. Emily 3. Cantaloupe Island 4. Born For You 5. Spirit House 6. 500 Miles High 7. Nanaimo Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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