Cleveland Watkiss

Cleveland Watkiss is a truly inspirational figure in UK music, who’s impact and legacy is felt strongly across an extremely broad spectrum of musical genres. In the jazz scene, he is known as one of the co-founders of the hugely influential Jazz Warriors big band, as well as his work with the pianist and composer Julian Joseph and as a much-respected solo artist, regularly performing at leading jazz venues both in the UK and internationally. As a drum and bass vocalist and MC, Watkiss became the voice of Goldie’s legendary Metalheadz label nights at The Blue Note, a relationship that would lead to residencies and guest MC duties at some of the world’s biggest and best dance music events, not to mention his work alongside US drum innovator Marque “the innamost” Gilmore and cut master DJ La Rouge, as a key member of the first ever live drum and bass band, Project 23. There genuinely is no other musician who has made a similar contribution or embarked on such a unique journey throughout their career as Cleveland Watkiss – achieving this by trusting instincts and refusing to be defined, pigeon-holed or to ‘fit the mould’. The proof of this is evident in his work, resulting in a veritable cornucopia of compelling and successful endeavours across these aforementioned genres and much more.

Cleveland Watkiss has enhanced the projects of many of his musical colleagues, including artists and organisations as varied as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Bob Dylan, Jackie Mittoo, Keith Richards, The James Taylor Quartet, Art Blakey, Sly & Robbie, Abdullah Ibrahim, Stevie Wonder, Talvin Singh, Bjork and many, many more.