Jimmy Heath

[mr jazz]

jimmyheath dot com. He's personally responded twice to my emails. His new cd is "Turn up the Heath" and is a big band record! planetarts dot org has it.

[mr jazz]

more info

http://www.planetarts.org/dig%20dis%20musi...The%20Heath.htm

[Hardbopjazz]

I've seen Jimmy live at least 14 times. I will mae sure I pick this one up.

[king ubu]

Looks nice! And would likely fit the bill for the hardbop big band recommendations thread, too!

[mr jazz]

Ordered the cd and I'll post up my listening comments, FWTW

[Late]

Triple Threat @ The Super Bowl Halftime Show

[Gheorghe]

I think the first time I heard Jimmy Heath on record was the then available Red Garland LP "Quota". Many guys in the early 70´s had that. And I think those who had not heard him at least did know his name from his composition "Gingerbread Boy" which was often played. 
And later when BN was re-born I was astonished to hear many recording dates with him on tenor, but strange to say it was more in the early days of BN, I think with early Miles and early J.J. Johnson, but less from the late fifties on, when the label became more famous. 
 

[mikeweil]

Jimmy Heath's career has some gaps, you can read about the reasons here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Heath 

[Rooster_Ties]

15 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Heath 

TIL:  Heath was the father of R&B songwriter/musician James Mtume.

 

(‘TIL’ is short for “Today I learned…” — a Reddit thing, far as I know.)

[Late]

2 hours ago, Rooster_Ties said:

TIL:  Heath was ...

5' 3".

I guess I never really think about how tall jazz musicians are—I would've guessed Johnny Griffin if the question was: Which jazz tenor saxophonist was 5' 3"?

[Rooster_Ties]

Just now, Late said:

5' 3".

I guess I never really think about how tall jazz musicians are—I would've guessed Johnny Griffin if the question was: Which jazz tenor saxophonist was 5' 3"?

Wasn’t Tina Brooks short too?

(From Brooke’ Wikipedia entry: The nickname "Tina", pronounced Teena, was a variation of "Teeny", a childhood moniker.)

At least I always assumed he was short anyway.

[Late]

Just now, Rooster_Ties said:

Wasn’t Tina Brooks short too?

I think so? But he was standing next to Dexter Gordon (6' 5") when friends came up with the nickname. 🙃

[Milestones]

Short of stature, tall in talent.  I once saw Jimmy Heath in concert where he laid down a simply gorgeous reading of "If You Could See Me Now."  Explore his discography and you will find much to love.  Unlike many jazz musicians, he never seemed to waste a note.

Edited February 15, 2023 by Milestones

[Rooster_Ties]

Reminds me, one of the very best working sax players back in KC was (presumably still is) Rich Wheeler — who was all of 5’4” (maybe 5’5” at most). Also one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.

http://www.kcjazzambassadors.org/post/rich-wheeler-working-hard-and-loving-it
 

Tenor was his main axe, and I used to joke he had an extra set of lungs in his legs, as powerful as his tone was — generally came out of the Joe Henderson camp (which I probably why I loved his playing so much).

Not sure if I can post a picture here via my phone, let’s see…

 

[mikeweil]

3 hours ago, Late said:

5' 3".

I guess I never really think about how tall jazz musicians are—I would've guessed Johnny Griffin if the question was: Which jazz tenor saxophonist was 5' 3"?

Scott Hamilton quailfies, too.

[JSngry]

Ruby Braff was, like, what...Eddie Gaedel size?

[felser]

These are the ones I love by Heath.  All recorded 1972-1975, most adventurous playing he ever did.  BTW, met him at a Heath Bros. gig at the Foxhole Cafe ca.1977, very kind man.

[Big Beat Steve]

6 hours ago, Late said:

5' 3".

I guess I never really think about how tall jazz musicians are—I would've guessed Johnny Griffin if the question was: Which jazz tenor saxophonist was 5' 3"?

OT but ...

It may well be that most of those mentioned would not look all that short next to Lars Färnlöf, renowned trumpeter on the Swedish jazz scene of the 60s (worked with Staffan Abeléen and others).

[Late]

13 hours ago, mikeweil said:

Jimmy Heath's career has some gaps...

Yes, but all the gaps were remedied by:

4 hours ago, felser said:

 

[Peter Friedman]

I am not partial to some of Jimmy's later albums. My favorites are his six Riverside dates and Picture of Heath  with Barry Harris.