Making his first appearance in Glasgow in over a decade and 30 years after his cherished residency at the Glasgow Jazz Festival, alto saxophone hero Bobby Watson exuded charm as he stepped onto the St Luke’s stage, cheerfully declaring, “Go Scotland!” in recognition of the Euros.
He kicked off the performance with Jackie McLean’s “Condition Blue,” starting with a lively flourish that grew into intricate reedy flurries and pedal honks. The tune evolved into a boogie, with Watson’s top-notch rhythm section—longtime double bass collaborator Curtis Lundy, pianist Jordan Williams, and drummer Victor Jones—swinging alongside. Williams embarked on a sparkling piano excursion while Jones showcased his drumming prowess from the outset, and Watson returned for a nimble reprise.
Throughout the performance, Watson maintained his blues-inflected, mellow-toned yet authoritative and precisely articulated sound. His soloing, along with his band’s collective strength, was showcased in “Wheel Within a Wheel,” a classic from his time with the seminal Jazz Messengers. Here, three of the musicians left the stage to allow the pianist a solo prelude, deftly transitioning from ragtime to rhapsodic. Watson then reclaimed the melody, embellishing it briskly before a powerful conclusion.
Watson also delivered an eloquent ballad, which the piano picked up over a deeply resonant bass. He brought a sharp attack to his own composition, “Karita,” and to Lundy’s “Elementary My Dear Watson.” The rhythm section frequently built a compelling groove, especially in their short, sharp bebop rush of an encore.
The evening opened with a set by guitarist Nathan Somevi, accompanied by drummer Kenny Lyons. Somevi showcased his signature blend of snappy funk and mellow interludes, with reverberating chords interspersed with bass string runs on his hybrid guitar, delivering a warmly received performance.
