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Taking as his
prime influence the piano style of New Orleans, a potent gumbo of Barrel
House, Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll and Boogie Woogie, Diz "Honeybear"
Watson is no one of it's quintessential exponents.
This amalgam of style reached their apotheosis in the late 40's and
early 50's with the playing of Archibald, Fats Domino, Huey "Piano"
Smith and more contemporary musicians Dr. John and James Booker and
the greatest of them all Professor Longhair A.K.A. Henry Roland Byrd,
he being Diz's heaviest inspiration.
Diz was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in l948, and at the age
of 12 the family moved back to Yorkshire, England. Diz formed a friendship
with the legendary "Champion" Jack Dupree, who had settled
in Halifax a town not far away. "Jack really inspired me to the
more prehistoric rolling sound of the piano and also the way to phrase
the blues poetry."
When he left school Diz joined the Merchant Navy as a navigator travelling
the globe. Five years later he settled in Plymouth where he studied
the piano, having watched his mother playing years before. Diz perfected
his style in various combo's, Juice on the Loose, The Barrel House Shufflers
before forming the Doormen, a flexible entity, the nucleus of which
was the great Kieran O'Connor; drums, Pete Scott,' bass and Pete Thomas;
saxophone.
ln November 1981 Diz and the Doonnan recorded Bluecoat Man for Ace Records,
London. This record received rave reviews from both sides of the Atlantic
and the session included Fats Domino sideman Walter Kimble, Roger Lewis
and King of them all Lee Allen, who after the session said Diz is one
of the 'rockinest piano players in the wodd"
Throughout the early 80's the band performed with many artists such
as Alexis Korner, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Big Jay McNeely,
Chas and Dave and opened for the Rolling Stones at the request of Ian
Stuart (piano man and road manager for The Stones).
In 1983 the band became temporarily 'Dr John and the night trippers"
when they toured the UK and headlined the Glastonbury C.N.D. Festival
with Dr John culminating in a live album called Such a Night, recorded
at the Albany Empire, London, for Spindrift Records.
Before disappearing to Europe in 1985,another album Rhumbalero was recorded
for Ace Records, using a smaller line-up, more of a showcase for Diz.
Since Then Diz has heen living in Europe and making the occasional visit
to the Caribbean & the U.S A. and he is now making quite a name
lor himself in Ireland, "they like the humour" Says Diz, "especially
when I do some of those old Cousin Joe tunes like Juice on the Loose
and Evolution"
Thanks to John Minihan for the great photograph
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email diz
email diz's agent
charliehart.com
acerecords.co.uk
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