DIZ WATSON


Diz "Honey Bear" Watson es uno de los grandes pianistas británicos y el boogie de Nueva Orleans es una de sus especialidades . De hecho, el Dr. John  dice de él  "Diz es grande Realmente puede dominar el piano." Y el saxman estadounidense Lee Allen, que hatocado  con todos, desde Fats Domino a Professor LONGHAIR  agrega "Diz es uno de los músicos mejores del rock tocado a  de piano en el mundo."

  Huey "Piano" Smith, Amos Milburn y James Booker, son algunos de sus referentes . 

En 2011 se cumple 30 el aniversario del álbum "Bluecoat Man" lanzado el ACE Records. Grabado en Chalk Farm estudio, Londres, el uso de equipos de válvula que busca el sonido  auténtico,mantiene que  el álbum siga siendo una referencia. 

La historia de Diz y su bacground hasta  la fecha ha sido fascinante. Nacido en Sudáfrica de padres ingleses regresó  al Reino Unido a los  12 años de edad en 1960, más tarde estuvo en diferentes  aventuras en alta mar en la Marina Mercante, se reunió Champion Jack Dupree mientras ambos estaban viviendo en Yorkshire  viajes regulares a  Nueva Orleans hacían que estuviese tiempo con su mentor, el Professor Longhair siempre Diz estaba rodeado de la música.

Os dejamos con diferentes interpretaciones suyas, iniciamos con un poutpurri entre los cuales podéis descubrir el famoso Flip Flop & Fly , uno de nuestros preferidos, como veréis el video tiene su vigencia aunque esté realizado en 1988. 

                                


                         
                   

BIOGRAPHY


Taking as his prime influence the piano style of New Orleans, a potent gumbo of Barrel House, Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll and Boogie Woogie, Diz "Honeybear" Watson is no one of it's quintessential exponents.

This amalgam of style reached their apotheosis in the late 40's and early 50's with the playing of Archibald, Fats Domino, Huey "Piano" Smith and more contemporary musicians Dr. John and James Booker and the greatest of them all Professor Longhair A.K.A. Henry Roland Byrd, he being Diz's heaviest inspiration.

Diz was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in l948, and at the age of 12 the family moved back to Yorkshire, England. Diz formed a friendship with the legendary "Champion" Jack Dupree, who had settled in Halifax a town not far away. "Jack really inspired me to the more prehistoric rolling sound of the piano and also the way to phrase the blues poetry."

When he left school Diz joined the Merchant Navy as a navigator travelling the globe. Five years later he settled in Plymouth where he studied the piano, having watched his mother playing years before. Diz perfected his style in various combo's, Juice on the Loose, The Barrel House Shufflers before forming the Doormen, a flexible entity, the nucleus of which was the great Kieran O'Connor; drums, Pete Scott,' bass and Pete Thomas; saxophone.

ln November 1981 Diz and the Doormen recorded Bluecoat Man for Ace Records, London. This record received rave reviews from both sides of the Atlantic and the session included Fats Domino sideman Walter Kimble, Roger Lewis and King of them all Lee Allen, who after the session said Diz is one of the 'rockinest piano players in the world'

Throughout the early 80's the band performed with many artists such as Alexis Korner, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Big Jay McNeely, Chas and Dave and opened for the Rolling Stones at the request of Ian Stuart (piano man and road manager for The Stones).

In 1983 the band became temporarily 'Dr John and the night trippers" when they toured the UK and headlined the Glastonbury C.N.D. Festival with Dr John culminating in a live album called Such a Night, recorded at the Albany Empire, London, for Spindrift Records.

Before disappearing to Europe in 1985,another album Rhumbalero was recorded for Ace Records, using a smaller line-up, more of a showcase for Diz.

Since Then Diz has heen living in Europe and making the occasional visit to the Caribbean & the U.S A. and he is now making quite a name lor himself in Ireland, "they like the humour" Says Diz, "especially when I do some of those old Cousin Joe tunes like Juice on the Loose and Evolution"


                                

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