Chicago native Kobie Watkins is a leading voice in the new generation of jazz drummers. I saw Watkins several months ago at The Jazz Room in Charlotte and his performance was bananas—the crowd was in awe and after each solo there was thundering applause. An absolute wonder to watch, his polyrhythmic creativity and concepts create unique musical art that has put him in the category of a young jazz master. For this reason, he has been sought after by the best in the industry.
Watkins has toured with a number of jazz greats such as Sonny Rollins, Curtis Fuller, Ken Chaney, Ron Perrillo, Bethany Pickens, Ryan Cohan, and you hear him all throughout Kurt Elling's 2011 Grammy nominated The Gate. Currently, he tours with jazz guitarist and composer Bobby Broom and plays weekly at the Kobie Watkins' Jazz Jam Playhouse at Beyu Café in Durham, N.C. You can find the charming and popular Café packed with Southern jazz enthusiasts as Watkins leads a number of musicians in creative and ad-hoc interpretations of popular jazz standards.
In addition to being a drummer, Watkins is also a composer who penned all of his compositions on his 2006 debut CD entitled Involved. Involved consists of a sonically penetrating set of grooves with fusion, latin and gospel undertones. The ten track album is an absolute must have for the jazz connoisseur's collection.
When asked about his sound, he quickly credits gospel music as a vital influence on his technique and sound development. Yet, he also gives honor to his father and a host of jazz greats who helped him become the outstanding drummer he is today. This knowledge has made him a top music educator, and he passes his jazz wisdom with other talented and upcoming drummers at jazz clinics and camps across the United States. Watkins is interested in one thing: doing his best for the music and serving the people.
All About Jazz: So you've accomplished so much in your career. You've played with so many greats. Looking back, when was the moment you decided that you wanted to be a professional jazz drummer?
Kobie Watkins: I became serious about the drums in between high school and college. Right after high school, there was a period where I worked regular jobs. I worked at Old Country Buffet, similar to Golden Corral, and I was still working at McDonald's a couple of days on the weekend. I was working three different jobs at 1 point. Working those jobs, I realized when washing dishes at Old Country Buffet that I didn't want to do exactly what I was watching these older men do. So at that point, I'd completed the audition for Vandercook College of Music and I told myself, once I get into school, I'm going to stay focused and I'm never going back to this.
AAJ: And let's go back even before that—when did you come in contact with the drum set?
KW: I started playing the drums while I was three or four years old in church. There, I listened to the drummers, in addition to hearing my dad playing drums in the church. I listened and observed those before me when I was three then went home and tried to replicate what I saw. My older brother remembered this moment! He explained to me how I would set the bowls, pots, and pans in order in tones. I was really big on tones and what things sounded like and so even today, I am really persnickety about how drums sound. Is it viable, can it reach the listener? And then how do they sound for me? Also, am I able to play them and make music for them? It gets interesting. Even today, when I'm touring my early decisions when learning the music revolve around how I want the drums to sound.
And I learned the ABC's or rudiments of drumming with my dad and those concepts stuck with me forever. I had maybe five lessons with him, and after that I've never had a drum set lesson with any person in the world. Now, yes, I've gone to clinics, I've talked to my elders and talked with drummers older than I am. I'm also good friends with people I can actually call today and say, "Hey, what do you think about this, can you tell me about XYZ" in terms of technicalities such as Steve Smith. It's pretty cool. It's a give and take journey because I've never taken lessons, and there are times I feel like I probably should have taken lessons—but that's life.
AAJ: When growing up were there particular jazz musicians or really popular jazz musicians that influenced you like Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, etc, or would you say it was those people you had access to?
Sure. In genre order, people who influenced me would be gospel drummers first---people like Michael Williams from Commission, or Joel Smith with The Hawkins Family. In addition, I learned from Joe Maxwell who played with gospel great Andre Crouch, Kevin Brunson with Milton Brunson and The Thompson Community Singers, and Seeden with The Soul Children of Chicago. Also a guy named Kenny Coleman who showed my brother and I a lot of stuff by just watching him at church.
Thanks to http://www.allaboutjazz.com/kobie-watkins-a-drummers-voyage-kobie-watkins-by-k-shackelford.php
