2012 brings a new sound to a familiar face in the national music community. With an astonishingly talented cast of musicians, The Motet has refined their sound and their vision into a dynamic and expressive improvisational force.
Founded and led by drummer Dave Watts, The Motet began almost thirteen years ago and hasn’t let up since. Featuring complex compositions written and arranged by Watts himself, the music tells a story through syncopated rhythms and melodies.
“I’ve always written parts for guitar, bass, horns, and percussion. Because they’ve all been created with a clave in mind, there’s a very specific way in which the parts interact,” explains Watts.
“That’s what gives the song its character. When we play live sometimes we’ll get into a groove, play the head, and then open up for solos. And all the while, everything is tied to the clave with everyone playing in it. That’s just one way you approach playing music with respect for it’s composition or tradition.”
As music and technology evolve at an astounding rate, so too has The Motet pioneered their unique sound while continuing to defy categorization. With roots in Jazz, Afrobeat, Funk, Salsa and Samba, The Motet keeps their audiences in a dancing frenzy by layering House and Techno rhythms into a style that is uniquely their own.
From years of incessant touring and with a rich legacy under their belt, The Motet’s “resolve to evolve” has made them indispensable in the East and West Coast groove circuits.
Writes Dave Kirby of Boulder Magazine: “Watts’ dedication and artistic integrity have created an elusive musical entity which seems to be as much fun to play in as it is to go out and hear.”
The Motet is a world-class ensemble that whips audiences into a whirlwind using sheer impromptu force. The rhythms are spontaneous and textured and the beats are hard-driving. The band uses this energy to create a rapport between the audience and themselves that is rarely seen in today’s world of manufactured rock. The Motet consecrates the ground on which dance music meets free-form improvisation.
Discography
2000 – THE MOTET: Breathe
2001 – THE MOTET: Play
2002 – THE MOTET: Live
2004 – THE MOTET: Music For Life
2006 – THE MOTET: Instrumental Dissent
2009 – THE MOTET : Dig Deep
