Bio
Reggie Watkins, a native of West Virginia, has played trombone for twenty years. After attending West Virginia University for Jazz Performance he relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to become a leader and contributor on the local music scene. In Pittsburgh, he began playing, recording and arranging for various groups such as The Roger Humphries Band and The Kevin Frieson Ensemble, as well as group collaborations with The Jive Family and many others. As a leader, Reggie arranges and composes music for his own project, The Reggie Watkins Band.
In 1999, Watkins joined Maynard Ferguson as Trombonist, Musical Director, and Arranger for the legendary jazz trumpet player. On the road with Ferguson, Watkins performed in thousands of shows and educational workshops worldwide to establish himself as an effective clinician, innovative performer and soloist also becoming a creative arranger and composer. On the 2001 Maynard Ferguson / Diane Schuur release 'Swingin For Schuur', Reggie was the featured Trombonist and Arranger. In Spring 2003, Reggie was selected as one of only eleven semi-finalists by Conrad Herwig and Eddie Bert to perform at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute’s International Jazz Competition in Washington D.C. There he was accompanied by an all-star jazz group consisting of pianist Eric Reed, bassist Bob Hurst, and drummer Carl Allen.
Watkins released his first solo CD as Band Leader, Trombonist, Composer, Arranger, and Producer entitled A-LIST in the summer of 2004. The album features sixteen musicians, all original compositions and arrangements, and is part of The Maynard Ferguson Presents series. Reggie would also later use his talents as producer to co-produced "MF VI Live at Ronnie Scott's" with Maynard Ferguson and Ed Sargent in 2006. That same year he was also honored as Outstanding Alumnus from his alma mater Wheeling Park High School and delivered the commencement address to the graduating class and an audience of friends and family. Watkins was given the distinction of becoming the first person chosen from the performing arts in the schools history.
The following year in early 2007, Watkins traveled to Thailand for the fifth time at the request of The King of Thailand to serve as Musical Director and trombonist for The King’s 80th birthday celebration. Also featured at this concert was Urbie Green, Ricky Woodard, Patrick Hession, Sam Most and many others.
Throughout his career, Reggie has performed with a long list of international performers including Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, Arturo Sandoval, Slide Hampton, Dianne Schuur, Jose Feliciano, Urbie Green, Christian Castro, The Temptations, The Ojays, James Moody, Benny Green, Michael Feinstein, Poogie Bell, Roger Humphries, and Denis DiBlasio.
Currently, Watkins can be heard most frequently with Jason Mraz, The Groovline Horns, The Reggie Watkins Band, The Murray Avenue Jazz Initiative, The Boogie Hustlers, Opec, and as featured soloist with high school and college bands across the country and abroad.
Partial Discography:
2007 Bill Deasy - Chasin' Down a Spark (We Can)
2007 The Boogie Hustlers - True Colors
2007 Poogie Bell - Get On The Kit
2006 Maynard Ferguson – MF6 (Producer / Trombone / Arranger)
2005 3 Apples High - Metrobotic
2004 Reggie Watkins - A-List (JiveFam Records)
2003 Roger Humphries Big Band - Don't Give Up
2001 Diane Schuur / Maynard Ferguson - Swingin' for Schurr (Concord Records)
2000 Michael Fienstien / Maynard Ferguson - Big City Rhythms (Concord Records)
1998 Dr. Zoot - Ghosts of Swing (Hepcat Records)
1999 Kevin Frieson Ensemble - Ebony Tears
