Doug Watkins
bass
Detroit bassist from the circle of young players who gathered at Barry’s house; the two went together on Barry’s first trip to New York, around 1952-53, and stayed with Sheila Jordan.
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- Barry speaking
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What Barry says
Asked about Bud Powell, Barry says he did not hear him in person until much later. Around 1953 he and Watkins were working with Rudy Rutherford, who planned a New York holiday; they saved up to go too, and when Rutherford dropped out they went anyway.
On that first trip to New York, Barry and Watkins stayed with Sheila Jordan, a fellow Detroiter, and with Jeannie Dawson.
Barry Harris on WKCR-FM ¶110Barry Harris, Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program ¶133
In the oral history he dates the trip with Watkins to 1952 or 1953. He was annoyed to find Charlie Parker out of town, but he got to hear Art Blakey, who always let him sit in; they always played ‘Night in Tunisia’ very fast.
When Panken recalls the 1953 trip with Watkins and hearing Bud Powell at Birdland, Barry says that was his first time, and that they then went to a club in the Bronx to hear Art Blakey.
Naming the Detroit players who were part of their circle and came to his house, Barry reaches for the name of a bass player and comes up with Watkins, alongside Kirk Lightsey, Hugh Lawson and Frank Gant.
Going through a discography made in Holland, Barry reads that he recorded early on with Willie Wells and Wild Bill Moore, with Watkins on bass and Bob Atchison on drums, and says he wishes he could remember the date.
In his own words
Doug Watkins and I were working with a cat called Rudy Rutherford, and Rudy said he was going to New York for a vacation, and we said we’re going to go too.
when I went to New York for the first time – me and Doug went together, we stayed with Sheila Jordan, you know.
I went with Doug Watkins, what’d I tell you in ‘52 or ‘53, and then – I was mad too, ‘cause I got there and Bird was out of town.
Every mention
0 moments in the recordings, 0 of them Barry speaking. Each says who is talking.
In the interviews and notes
Barry tells Panken that he and Watkins, then working with Rudy Rutherford, went to New York around 1953 on their own savings when Rutherford’s trip fell through, and stayed with Sheila Jordan and Jeannie Dawson.
When Panken brings up the 1953 trip with Watkins and hearing Bud Powell at Birdland, Barry says that was his first time, and adds that they also heard Art Blakey at a club in the Bronx.
Reading from a Dutch discography, Barry notes an early session with Willie Wells and Wild Bill Moore that lists Watkins on bass, which he cannot recall.
Barry places Watkins in the Detroit circle that gathered at his house, and recalls going to New York with him for the first time and staying with Sheila Jordan.
Barry Harris, Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program ¶107Barry Harris, Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program ¶133
Barry dates the trip with Watkins to 1952 or 1953 and remembers his disappointment that Charlie Parker was away; instead he heard Art Blakey, who let him sit in.
Asked whether Barry was a natural teacher, McPherson recalls that Paul Chambers, Doug Watkins and others were part of the scene at Barry’s house, where there was usually some music going on.
Ted Panken (interviewer); Tommy Flanagan, Tommy Flanagan ¶210
Panken lists Watkins with Paul Chambers as the bassists in the Detroit peer group in which Barry grew up.