Trombonist and composer Reggie Watkins channels decades of experience, deep Pittsburgh roots, and a spirit of collaboration into Rivers—his fourth studio album and first composed entirely of original music. Known for his powerful tone and expressive phrasing, Watkins has toured and recorded extensively with icons like Maynard Ferguson and Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band. On Rivers, he leads a tight, intergenerational Pittsburgh-based quartet through a dynamic and deeply personal set of post-bop originals.
Recorded during a creative surge that followed the lockdown of 2020, Rivers reflects Watkins’ connection to family, mentors, and the legacy of his hometown. The music pays tribute to heroes like Sam Rivers, Ornette Coleman, and Jimmy Knepper, while also honoring his family and close collaborators. At once grounded and forward-looking, Rivers is a statement of identity, craft, and community from one of modern jazz’s most compelling trombone voices.
"Reggie Watkins manages to improvise with an originality and creativity avoiding clichés and predictable phrases in an entirely distinctive trombone style." – Hot House Magazine
“Modern jazz for the open-eared, Watkins' agenda is to push the future of jazz..” – Midwest Record