Mediators is a new post-bop quartet. We play three sets of post-bop and West Coast Cool, mining the genius of Wayne Shorter, Eddie Harris, Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Herbie Mann, with a few ballads (Duke Ellington, Mongo Santamaría, Joey Calderazzo, Pat Metheny)  and are expanding out from there.

Led by Philip Watt, trumpet and flugelhorn player and vocalist, the band features Sam Ortolano on guitar, Danny Beallo on drums, Adam Hernandez on bass.

Philip Watt has played on many stages in the Bay Area and NYC as well as Los Angeles; as a kid right out of conservatory, he played with Rilo Kiley here at the Fonda, the Troubadour, the Knitting Factory and many other venues, and he also played with the local 48 Big Band. In NYC, he played with the NYC Teachers Big Band, and with The Mercenaries at venues like Arlene's Grocery and Lakeside Lounge. In his hometown of Saint Louis, Philip played with his own quartet and with the Friends of Aaron Big Band, the Saint Louis Big Band, and the Starlighters Big Band, and in New Orleans, he played at Cafe Beignet with pianist and singer Michael Parsons over a dozen times and with Brad Walker in the New Orleans Jazz Festival. As an actor, he's played Chet Baker in three full productions about the jazz legend's life, two in San Francisco's fabled Viracocha on Valencia Street, and at Stage Werx, and in New York at Jimmy's #43 Back Room (featured in Woody Allen's recent Café Society).

Danny Beallo is a busy LA-based drummer, and has had the opportunity to perform at world famous clubs like the House of Blues, the Viper Room, Whiskey A Go Go, The Mint, The Rainbow Bar and Grill; opening up for bands including Flock of Seagulls and working with producers including Roy Thomas Baker. Along with a busy performance schedule, he has recorded at 4th Street Recording, Angelhouse Productions, and has had his recordings featured in the movies Stomp the Yard and Obsessed; with Sony and Universal artists, as well as on radio stations 95.5 KLOS and 88.9 KXLU. https://dannybeallodrums.com/

Sam Ortolano has performed hundreds of shows up and down the West Coast as well as having extended residencies as a solo guitarist, influenced by such artists as Chick Corea, Return to Forever, Allan Holdsworth, Paco, John and Al, and Pat Metheny. He likes to play at Pip's on La Brea, The Rhythm Room and The Barkley regularly and has played at The Whisky a Go Go, Roxy Theatre, Troubadour, Namba Arts, Ojai Underground Exchange over the years. https://samortolano.com/press-kit

Hailing from deep in the mountains at Castaic, California, Adam Hernandez is heading to Cal Arts Jazz Department in the fall.

Contact:            Philip Watt                    646.322.6901                             pwatt99@gmail.com