Eric Watson, born July 5, 1955, is an American jazz pianist. He was born in Wellesley (Massachusetts). After graduating from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio in 1978, Watson moved to Paris. ACT Records signs Watson to a long-term contract. Watson has been married twice. In 1982, Watson recorded his first trio with Ed Schuller and Paul Motian (Conspiracy). He then released two solo albums. He has been a long-standing member of a duo with John Lindberg, doublebass player. This group was later extended to include Ed Thigpen and Albert Mangelsdorff. Watson also collaborated with Linda Sharrock, Watson, and Joelle Leandre on “Palimpseste”, 1991. His trio with Ed Thigpen and Mark Dresser (Silent Hearts 1998) was the foundation for the “Full Metal Quartets (1999/2000), with saxophonist Bennie Wallace. His solo piano album Sketches of Solitude (2002, a best-selling jazz album in France) was a huge success. He toured Europe, Asia and Australia in 2003 and 2005 with Christof Lauer. His dance score The Peking Ballet, which he composed for Radio City Music Hall, was seen by over 200,000 people in the summer 1984. Multi-concert performances of his music were presented by the Lyon Opera, the State Theater in Poitiers, and the State Theater of Poitiers. He was a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2003. from https://peoplepill.com