Smooth Jazz with Bobby Watson and His Quartet

Bobby Watson and his jazz quartet performed at 222 on Sunday night in Healdsburg.  Art gallery by day, improvised night club by nightfall, 222, located at 222 Healdsburg Avenue is about to embark on its first full year as a multi-cultural venue for live arts performances in the evening.  The season opened on a high note with the grammy winning jazz composer and sax player extraordinaire, Bobby Watson and his quartet.  Classical music as well as jazz will be featured for the 2022-23 season.  Authors and poets will be spotlighted as well as Indie movies.  A silent film night will be shown with live piano accompaniment.  The art gallery represents 50+ artists showcasing oil paintings, collages and sculptures. The cabaret tables set for four were low lit. The ambiance was intimate and relaxing.  Every table had a bowl filled with individually wrapped Godiva chocolate hearts.  The 100 guests were comprised of mainly local residents who welcomed one another.  The artworks are priced from $500-40,000 and are purchased by Sonoma soused tourists searching for souvenirs aside from spirits.  Bien sur, beer, wine and spirits were available for purchase.  Watson took to the improvised 3' high stage, an arm's length from the front tables.  Behind the quartet hung a massive oil painting of kaleidoscope, colors.  The painting was the perfect backdrop for the lively performance.  (It is the priciest piece in the gallery.)  The first bright, upbeat number featured solos from drummer, Akira Tana and bassist, Essiet Essier.  Veteran dummer, Tana has recorded with legendary artists; Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and Zoot Sims.  Essier's solo featured him plucking the neck strings while simultaneously strumming the bass.  This achieved a hollowed, percussive sound.  It wasn't until after their second number that Bobby Watson addressed the audience, "I thought I'd get right down to the business of making some music."  His jovial banter and warm manner was infectious within the group and those gathered.  Watson spoke about marrying into a musical family and co-writing with his wife and his wife's sister.  My favorite piece had a mellower pace and blended in some Ellington'e musical phrases  and riffs from popular tunes such as "Favorite Things," The second to last piece was entitled "ETA," named when his wife was 8 months pregnant with their daughter.  The last piece of the night was "In Case you Missed It," which brought the music full-circle to the jaunty and timber rich sounds of their first pieces. The entire evening maintained an upbeat, celebratory vibe that heralds in a welcomed season ahead.