Trevor Watts and drummer John Stevens, who had met in the Royal Air Force, formed The Spontaneous Music Ensemble at London’s Little Theatre Club in 1966. It became one of the most influential groups in British improvised music, but Watts, who started playing saxophone in his late teens and is largely self-taught, has remained open to a wide range of idioms. Since forming Amalgam in 1968 he has continued to make melodic and rhythmic improvised music that draws upon elements of jazz, rock, Celtic, African and numerous other styles and traditions. He has led The Drum Orchestra, Moiré Music and The Celebration Band and played in numerous other contexts, including notable duos with pianist Veryan Weston and with former Steeleye Span violinist Peter Knight. In 2005 Watts released the solo CD World Sonic, an apt title for a musician who has toured extensively in Latin America, Africa, North America, the Caribbean, Asia, New Zealand and Europe. Watts has enjoyed a long association with Barry Guy’s London Jazz Composers’ Orchestra. His latest release is 5 More Dialogues (Emanem), further duets with Weston.
