Diz "Honeybear" Watson has spent more than half a century playing and singing the blues. On Diz-Connected - his first new album in thirteen years - he mixes original compositions with the songs he loves - and the results are magnificent.
Diz was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1948, and at the age of 12 the family moved back to Yorkshire, England. It was then that Diz formed a friendship with the legendary "Champion" Jack Dupree, who had settled not far away, in Halifax. Jack really inspired me to the more prehistoric rolling sound of the piano and also the way to phrase the blues poetry, Diz says.
As a young man, Diz joined the Merchant Navy as a navigator travelling the globe. Five years later, he settled in Plymouth where he studied the piano, having watched his mother playing years before. He perfected his style in various combos, including Juice on the Loose and The Barrel House Shufflers before forming the Doormen, a flexible entity, the nucleus of which was the great Kieran O'Connor; drums, Pete Scott; bass and Pete Thomas; saxophone.
ln 1981, Diz and the Doormen recorded Bluecoat Man for Ace Records, London. This record received rave reviews from both sides of the Atlantic and is still considered one of the great British R&B records (Lee Allen, Roger Lewis and Walter Kimble – all of Fats Domino’s band –joined Diz in the studio on this classic album).
Throughout the early 80's the band performed with many artists such as Alexis Korner, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Big Jay McNeely, and opened for the Rolling Stones. In 1983, the band temporarily became "Dr. John and the Night Trippers" when they played Glastonbury and toured the UK with Dr. John, culminating in a live album called Such a Night, for Spindrift Records.
Before disappearing to Europe in 1985, another album Rhumbalero was recorded for Ace Records, using a smaller line-up, which more of a showcase for Diz.
I did hang out with both [Champion Jack Dupree and Lee Allen] in New Orleans, round about 1988 and 1990. Spent three days with Lee Allen doing the bars, it was like walking around with Zeus. Lee Allen told me once “the music is best when the money is right,” and the Champ told me, "take your time but don’t take mine." ~ Diz
These days Diz has heen living in Europe, and making quite a name lor himself in Ireland. They like the humour, says Diz, especially when I do some of those old Cousin Joe tunes like Juice on the Loose and Evolution.
Almost always accompanying Diz on conga drum is veteran Jamaican percussionist Tony ‘Groco’ Uter. He has played with Ronnie Scott, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Marley, Rico Rodriguez, Linton ‘Kwesi’ Johnson, Errol Linton and many other celebrated artists. Together Diz and Tony are the Butch & Sundance of British R&B, always entertaining in concert and simply superb on Diz Connected – a celebration of life that keeps the tradition of Champion Jack, Dr John, Professor Longhair and other piano masters alive, albeit under the auspices of a gruff Yorkshireman.
