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WA music student jazzes it up with Watts

WA Academy of Performing Arts music student Harry Mitchell was thrilled to play two jazz versions of Rolling Stones songs with drummer Charlie Watts.

It's not often a university student gets to play alongside one of rock `n roll's greatest.

But that's what happened to Harry Mitchell, a final year jazz performance student at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, who played piano alongside Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts at Perth's Ellington Jazz Club on Wednesday night.

Mitchell told Fairfax radio he tinkled the ivories on two of the veteran band's songs at the impromptu gig after being invited along by club director Graham Wood.

He was just expecting to accompany the Stones' saxophonist Tim Ries, but was surprised and thrilled when Watts, an expert jazz drummer, turned up as well.

"Tim said `do you mind if Charlie plays a few tunes?' and we were like `yeah'!

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"He sounded great.

"He was really nice to work with."

Wood said Watts played to a full house - albeit one much smaller than he was used to.

"He went from 13,500 people to 135 people. That's capacity," Wood told AAP.

"It was a real treat."

Watts's gig followed a performance at the club by Rolling Stones' backing singers on Monday.

One of the singers, Bernard Fowler, was to perform at the Ellington alongside Watts but had to depart Perth after his flight was rescheduled.


2 min read

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Source: AAP


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