Stones drummer Charlie Watts plays at Dakota Jazz Club
The birthday drummer sat in with several Stones sidemen on the song “Ruby Tuesday.”
By Jon Bream JUNE 3, 2015 — 12:08AM

Charlie Watts

…Charlie Watts, the jazz lover, went to the Dakota Jazz Club — even though it was his birthday. And he sat in on one song.

It was the playfully dubbed Band 2 featuring three Stones sidemen — saxophonist/leader Tim Ries, keyboardist Chuck Leavell and singer Bernard Fowler — and several Twin Cities musicians.

Watts watched the hourlong first set from the balcony…, watching intently as his pal, jazz-fusion drummer Steve Smith, sat in on one of the few non-Stones numbers, “Take the Coltrane.”

Watts reappeared at the start of the second set on the drum kit. Ries led the group in a quick “Happy Birthday” to recognize Watts’ 74th. And then it was…“Ruby Tuesday” with one of the world’s great rock drummers. The silver-haired time keeper was understated and steady before ending the song with a little flourish.

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