Andre Watts

[ucanseetheend]

https://www.npr.org/2023/07/17/1188166323/remembering-andre-watts-the-american-pianist-who-opened-doors-of-possibility

[richardfinegold]

Ultimately I think he was more important as a trailblazer than as as a Pianist. R.I.P.

[Dave2002]

Ultimately I think he was more important as a trailblazer than as as a Pianist. R.I.P.

Not sure about that - but he was certainly very articulate, as this short video shows:

Here is another one [I don't think I can post two to the same board posting .. but maybe I can ... will check later...] which also demonstrates his very thoughtful and aware mind:

https://youtu.be/AzNb64_zYNM

[Looks like it is possible to have two - possibly more - videos in one post.] This particular interview is very interesting - his comments on competitions make a lot of sense.

I never heard him live - and I can't immediately recall having any LPs or CDs, but I am sure I must have heard performances from the radio.

Andre Watts RIP

[smittims]

His Brahms second concerto (late '60s recording) was good enough to sit alongside Katchen et al.

[Dave2002]

HIs comments in the 2nd video - msg 3 - about performing and recording, including the comments that artists give different performances on differerent days - are very well put.

It is worth watching that part of that interview - if not the whole of it.

[richardfinegold]

I must have seen him on one of his off days, at a summer concert in the seventies in Detroit. He and the orchestra got out of synch and stopped and restarted. He looked very flustered and was audibly misfiring when he resumed, clusters of wrong notes. One of his bad nights, I guess.