Watt Makes a Man Play Jazz?

Mike Watt is going to play the Monterey Jazz Festival. Will he arrive in a van?

Banyan was founded by Stephen Perkins, drummer for the post-punk progressive rock bands Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros. Perkins’ bandmates for the MJF gig include Mike Watt (an LA-based punk rock bassist still revered for his work with the bands Minutemen and fIREHOSE), Nels Cline (a longtime avant-garde jazz and rock guitarist who has recently joined the alt-country band Wilco), and trumpeter Willie Waldman (who has recorded with rap icons Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Xzibit). While these credentials may not sound like your typical MJF players, the music they are playing is undeniably jazz.

... "There is no one more punk-rock than Mike Watt, and his style is very proud, melodic and aggressive, yet entirely unpretentious. He has a great spirit that comes flying out of his bass.

Banyan page on the MJF website