Jeff "Tain" Watts began playing drums as a small child, studying classical forms throughout his younger years and eventually at the Berklee College Of Music. It was there that he met Branford Marsalis and developed an interest in jazz. In 1981, he relocated to New York to play with Wynton Marsalis on a regular basis, before joining old pal Branford's band in 1989. A fairly in demand sideman, Watts also played in groups led by Michael Brecker, Courtney Pine, Jason Rebello, Greg Osby, and Kenny Kirkland, among others. As a writer, Watts eschewed the hard bop style of the era and embraced melody full on, releasing several albums of his own on various labels during the 1990s and 2000s.