Few bassists were as much in demand in the 1950s as Doug Watkins, who was part of the original line-up of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In 1956 (the same year he seconded Sonny Rollins on "Saxophone Colossus"), the 22-year-old was able to record his first album of bluesy and balladic hard bop for the Transition Records label run by visionary producer Tom Wilson (Bob Dylan, Mothers Of Invention, among others). Unfortunately, Watkins' promising career came to an abrupt end in 1962 due to a fatal car accident. 

BLUE NOTE TONE POET EDITION: Mono, produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a single Sleeve with deluxe tip-on jacket. Plus booklet!

Tracklist:

Watkins At Large (Transition, 1956)

A1. Return To Paradise
A2. Phinupi
B1. Phil T. McNasty's Blues
B2. More Of The Same
B3. Panonica

Doug Watkins (bass); Donald Byrd (trumpet); Hank Mobley (tenor sax); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Duke Jordan (piano); Art Taylor (drums)