I was watching Johnny Carson one night back in the good old 80's and out of the blue they featured their Big Band in a battle of the tenor saxophones. Standing out front and leading the charge was Ernie Watts and Pete Christlieb. It knocked my socks off. I'm not sure if this was the actual segment or not, but I'm glad it's posted so we can all enjoy that memorable band which featured some truly great musicians.
The Tonight Show Band is the house band which plays on the American television variety show, The Tonight Show. From 1962 to the 1990s, during the years the show was known as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, the band was a 17-piece Big Band, and was an important outlet for jazz on American television. During the Carson era, the band was always billed as "The NBC Orchestra" (not to be confused with the NBC Symphony Orchestra) and sometimes "Doc Severinsen and the NBC Orchestra".
- Trumpet: Conte Candoli (1968–1992), Clark Terry (in New York), Snooky Young (1967–1992), Maurey Harris
- Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Bandleader: Doc Severinsen
- Trumpet/Flugelhorn: John Audino, Allen Vizzutti, Chuck Findley
- Trombone: Gilbert Falco, Bruce Paulson
- Bass Trombone: Ernie Tack
- Alto Sax/Clarinet/Flute: John Bambridge
- Alto Sax/Arranger/Assistant Bandleader: Tommy Newsom (1962–1992)
- Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet: Pete Christlieb, Bill Perkins, Ernie Watts
- Baritone Sax/Bass Sax/Flute/Euphonium: Don Ashworth
- Guitar: Mitch Holder, Bob Bain, Peter Woodford, Tony Mottola, Bucky Pizzarelli, Herb Ellis
- Piano: Ross Tompkins
- Fill-In Piano: Russ Freeman
- Bass: Joel DiBartolo, John Leitham
- Drums: Jack Sperling (1962), Shelly Manne (1963), Ed Shaughnessy, uie Bellson">Louie Bellson
Jazz in all its forms is America's great donation to the music of the world. Please support it whenever you can.
Calling this jam a battle is Check out Ernie Watts website here.
Check Pete Christlieb's site here.
These two jazz icons are not to be missed. Ernie Watts has a new album out this year.
