MATT WATSON

Sat., Feb. 8.  MATT WATSON.  Obsessed with harmonica since listening to his grandmother play her Hohner Vest Pocket Harp one Sunday afternoon, Mr. Watson picked up a “10-hole Marine Band” harmonica at age 16, and “couldn’t put it down,” graduating to the “Super Chromonica” chromatic harmonica after hearing “Toots” Theileman play the theme song from Sesame Street on hers.  His obsession continuing, he has played virtuoso harmonica with Leo LeBlanc, Louis Lacayo, Garrison White, Wilson Picket, The Commitments, the Jamie Faunt Trio, The Johnny Walker Blues Band, The Horse Soldiers, and Chad Watson (no relation.)  His work is heard on the CD’s Singing in the Valley (The Horse Soldiers,) Blue to the Bone (Blue by Nature,) and A Cowboy Christmas (Warner/Scotti Bros. Records.)  He is heard on the sound track for the motion picture The Return of the Killer Shrews, and counts among his proudest moments performing with Country Music star Randy Travis at the 1993 Golden Boot Awards sponsored by the Motion Picture & Television Fund Foundation.

After hearing his contributions to The Gardenia’s Open Mike nights, our assessment is that Mr. Watson has the potential to do for the harmonica what Kenny G did for the saxophone:  bring the Vox Humana– like qualities of the instrument to “the masses,” instilling a new appreciation for its range:  from Frontier aggression to jazz and the blues, to a pianissimistic plaintive delicacy that can break your heart.  Who knew that amplified harmonica could be so affecting?  And aren’t we audience members lucky to be the beneficiaries of another man’s musical obsession?  Mr. Watson’s virtuosity is, in fact, stunning.