After hearing saxophonist Ernie Watts, it's easy to imagine that he possesses superhuman talents… He breathes fire, can cool with ice, whip up a storm, and shape his sax sound in ways otherworldly. This is a powerful, yet sensitive, technically Herculean, yet human, complex yet elegantly beautiful player - no, a marvel. - All About Jazz

"Through my years of touring and recording," explains Watts, „I‘ve played in every kind of musical setting. I‘ve reached a place in my life where I need to make music on my terms, which provides me with a new sense of freedom.“ That freedom can be readily heard on Watts‘ latest "FOUR plus FOUR," a collection of new Watts material that features both his U.S. and European quartets.

By joining his musical partners into a single vision, Watts inspires his friends to meld performances that firmly adhere to the artist‘s musical story. „Those classic Coltrane quartet recordings are at the heart of my writing and a source I draw from on stage,“ says Watts. „This particular project gave me the opportunity to document my Los Angeles quartet alongside my group in Germany, my parallel universe.“

Duties are split; each quartet has three tracks and one tune is shared by both. The German sessions open with Watts‘ rhythmic “Tributary“ followed by the impressionistic "Crossings." The players then follow Watts into his introspective waltz “A Quiet Corner“ and on to Watts‘ travelogue "Through My Window." On this track both quartets contribute from their respective homelands with Watts‘ distinctive tenor as the link. The melody segues seamlessly from one session recorded nine months prior in Köln into a solid conclusion recorded at another time and in another place with Watts‘ Los Angeles group, which improvises over the European quartet in the center of the piece. The LA musicians round out the CD with two more originals, "Wings of the Dreamer" and the dynamic "Find The Way," plus a moving interpretation of the only cover "The Ballad of The Sad Young Men."