[1] Before pursuing a music career, Waits studied psychology and history at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Waits's longstanding projects include Jason Moran & The Bandwagon, a trio with Moran, Waits, and Tarus Mateen;[2] Tarbaby, a trio with Eric Revis and Orrin Evans;[3] and his band Equality.

[4] In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused massive flooding in the basement Westbeth studio Waits had inherited from his father in 1989.

[5] In 2020, his group Nasheet Waits By Sea, a quartet with Nduduzo Makhathini, Immanuel Wilkins, Rashaan Carter, opened the Winter Jazzfest’s Manhattan Marathon.

[6][7] With Tarbaby With Ralph Alessi With Dave Douglas With Antonio Hart With Tony Malaby With Jason Moran With Armen Nalbandian With Tim Berne With others