Watters-Felts Project

Watters-Felts Project (WFP) is a jazz-oriented sextet featuring
some of the finest musicians in the southeast US.

Based in & around Huntsville, Alabama, the ensemble is co-led by trumpeter/flugelhornist Ken Watters & vocalist Ingrid Felts. The band members are among the most in-demand live & studio musicians in the south, and include pianist/keyboardist Pete Harrison, bassist Abe Becker, percussionist Darrell Tibbs & drummer Marcus Pope. Each member has a following in their own right, but together, the ensemble has shown strong "marquis-value" from their first performance together.

The group's musical repertoire is a carefully chosen mix of some of the most well-written songs from virtually every musical genre (including, of course, mainstream jazz) plus original music performed in WFP's own unique style. The result is something that listeners have certainly not heard before, but find instantly appealing.

Trumpeter / co-leader Ken Watters is a Summit Recording Artist with 6 CDs released internationally on the label (all of which spent significant time in the top 50 on the US jazz & world music charts). He is also endorsed by Jupiter Musical Instruments, and is a SESAC-affiliated jazz composer. His original “voice” on trumpet & flugelhorn, along with his musical rapport with singer Ingrid Felts are a large part of WFP’s unique sound as a band.

Since relocating to north Alabama in August 2010, vocalist / co-leader Ingrid Felts has taken the regional music scene by storm. Because of her diverse stylistic ability, sheer vocal precision & captivating stage presence, she is rapidly becoming the most in-demand jazz, commercial & studio singer in the southeast.

Pete Harrison is also relatively new to the north Alabama area. A 27-year veteran of the Air Force (as a career pianist), he has lived & performed all over the world. Pete literally knows THOUSANDS of songs from every musical genre, plus is a talented composer & arranger.

Bassist Abe Becker got his start as a professional musician in the Birmingham, Alabama area. He has performed with virtually every major jazz & non-jazz artist in the region & due to his stylistic versatility, is among the top-call bass players (both acoustic & electric) in the southeast.

Percussionist Darrell Tibbs toured with Donna Summer & vocal ensemble Take Six for over twelve years. Tibbs is in high demand as a studio percussionist throughout the entire southeast, including the notoriously “closed off” Nashville studio scene. His sheer taste & perfect sense of time make him one of the most highly sought-after percussion-dedicated specialists in the country.

Marcus Pope is known throughout the region as one of the most solid “backbones” in terms of his groove, creativity & flawless sense of time that a band can hope to have as a member. He also originated the popular Pope School of Percussion in Madison, Alabama, where he & his staff teach over 70 private drum students. Pope has recorded extensively throughout the region, including as an integral part of the well-known Muscle Shoals studio scene.