Ep. 32 | Ernie Watts: 2-Time Grammy Winner on Buddy Rich, Michael Jackson & 500+ Recordings

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Two-time Grammy winner and four-time nominee Ernie Watts joins the HMA Podcast (July 2018) for a deep dive into his extraordinary 50+ year career. From playing with Buddy Rich at 16 to recording with Thelonious Monk, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Frank Zappa, the Rolling Stones, and appearing on 500+ recordings, Ernie is one of the most recorded saxophonists in history.

We talk about:
• His early classical + jazz hybrid training
• Replacing Gene Quill in the Buddy Rich Band
• His experiences in the LA studio scene
• Working closely with cultural icons
• His Tonight Show years with Doc Severinsen
• His Flying Dolphin Records catalog
• His philosophy on sound, tone, composition, and practice
• His deep love of John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny
• The great arrangers who shaped American music
• His upcoming album Home Light

This is one of the most comprehensive interviews ever recorded with Ernie Watts — packed with history, wisdom, and inspiration for musicians of all levels.

Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction: Who is Ernie Watts?
2:14 – How did you start playing saxophone in Delaware?
4:19 – Did you have a private teacher or learn entirely in school?
6:09 – What classical books and repertoire did you study?
7:32 – What competitions did you win as a teenager?
8:33 – How did you balance classical training with learning jazz by ear?
9:35 – Do you have perfect pitch or strong relative pitch?
10:01 – At 16, did you already have all your scales down?
12:09 – What did Berklee add to your musical understanding?
14:21 – What great musicians came out of Delaware?
15:52 – What did you ask Cannonball Adderley when you met him?
16:34 – What was Buddy Rich like to work with personally?
17:15 – Why did you describe Buddy Rich as “helpful”?
17:44 – Any memorable Buddy Rich stories?
19:17 – How did Buddy approach practicing?
22:19 – What was it like working with Oliver Nelson?
24:02 – What was the session with Thelonious Monk like (Monk’s Blues)?
26:47 – Did you get to talk with James Brown?
28:14 – What was it like recording with Aretha Franklin?
29:06 – Did you work with the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson?
30:44 – What was Marvin Gaye like in the studio (Let’s Get It On)?
33:11 – How were the horn arrangements created on major pop records?
36:49 – Frank Zappa: What was he really like to work with?
38:59 – What was it like playing on the Tonight Show for 20 years?
40:26 – What did Dizzy Gillespie talk about with you backstage?
41:49 – What do you remember about the ‘Chariots of Fire’ Grammy session?
44:10 – Why did your deep jazz training make pop music “easy”?
46:47 – How did focusing on tone shape your pop recordings?
*48:01 – Album breakdown: Alive (track-by-track)
54:13 – How many hours do you practice daily?
55:16 – Spirit Song (album): What inspired the compositions?
57:06 – What is your goal with Analog Man and Flying Dolphin Records?
58:44 – What makes Jeremy Monteiro special as a musician?
59:57 – Name three musicians you absolutely love — and why.
1:02:27 – Who are your top three arrangers?
1:02:54 – Who are your favorite classical composers?
1:03:24 – Upcoming tours, new album Home Light, and closing.