Tommy Watt

Although the commercial ascendance of rock & roll virtually eradicated traditional jazz from British radio, bandleader Tommy Watt was the exception to the rule, with a mainstream profile elevated in large part due to the uniform brilliance of his crack supporting unit, highlighted by tenor saxophonist Tubby Hayes, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Ross, and trombonist Jackie Armstrong. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 31, 1925, Watt left home at 17 to play piano behind clarinetist Carl Barriteau -- he was called to military duty in 1944, serving in the Royal Air Force alongside...