Gavin Walker
Jun 29, 2007, 07:44 PM
James Edward Heath is known as the 'middle brother' of the famous Philadelphia Heath family that produced bassist Percy (now deceased) and drummer Albert (aka 'Tootie') who is thankfully very much with us. Jimmy was born in Philly on Oct. 25,1926 and like the Sonnys (Rollins and Stitt), Hank Mobley and many others, began on the alto saxophone but due to the all pervasive influence of Charlie Parker switched to the larger tenor as their main instruments.
Jimmy was known in his young days (before the switch) as 'Little Bird'. Heath grew up in the musically fertile atmosphere of post-war Philadelphia and became friendly and close to another alto saxophonist who made the switch to tenor.....John Coltrane. Heath cut his musical teeth and developed his skills as a player and budding writer with Nat Towels' band then onto trumpeter Howard McGhee's group then into Dizzy Gillespie's ground breaking big band (1949-50). Heath was on his way now on the tenor to freelance work with everybody on the scene in New York including Miles Davis and J.J. Johnson (check out those Blue Note dates) but during all of that activity Heath picked up a nasty drug habit. Jimmy was busted in Illinois (a bad state to be arrested in) in late 1953 and drew a heavy sentence for heroin possession. He was sent to Joliet and while there used his time wisely practicing his horn and developing his writing and arranging skills and when he emerged clean and sober in 1959 he was ready. He was to be John Coltrane's replacement in Miles Davis' important band but conditions of his parole prevented him from leaving New York and travelling so the gig with Miles unfortunately didn't happen but Orrin Keepnews from Riverside records proved to be a saviour for Heath as he was signed up to that label and became one of Keepnews' favourite artists.
Jimmy's first album for Riverside was a small group affair that was excellent although not innovative.......it was called "The Thumper" and Heath was able to pick the band and played very well. Tonight's Jazz Feature is Jimmy's second Riverside release called "Really Big!" (The title was Keepnews' idea not Jimmy's) and features a big band hand picked by Jimmy and what a band! Nat Adderley and Clark Terry on trumpets and Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley playing lead alto, Tommy Flanagan and Cedar Walton splitting the piano chores, big brother Percy on bass and kid brother Albert (Tootie) on drums plus some french horns and trombones. Jimmy is inspired as a soloist on this and his arrangements are direct and swinging as are his compositions plus his take on 'Green Dolphin Street', 'My Ideal', and a fresh look at Bobby Timmons' 'Dat Dere'. Keepnews in his updated notes (worth the price of the CD) financed this date as a gift to Jimmy (big band dates were expensive propositions for small Jazz labels like Riverside). Jimmy Heath proved to the world that he was really back on the scene to take care of serious business and he's still doing it to this day.....long live Jimmy Heath!
As an addenda; this album is part of the 'Keepnews Collection' that is being put out by Concord. Orrin has been given carte blanche to select albums that he loves and produced in his long career. Yes, most of us have these recordings but some have been issued with previously unissued tracks and the sound is state of the art and they are not expensive. The real bonus is Keepnews' new and updated and frank and honest liner essays..... he is an excellent writer and his insights are sometimes very moving and reveal things that even the veteran Jazz listeners will find fascinating. Check out "Really Big!' tonight on the Jazz Feature at 11pm. Better still, check out the whole show starting at 9pm.
Jimmy was known in his young days (before the switch) as 'Little Bird'. Heath grew up in the musically fertile atmosphere of post-war Philadelphia and became friendly and close to another alto saxophonist who made the switch to tenor.....John Coltrane. Heath cut his musical teeth and developed his skills as a player and budding writer with Nat Towels' band then onto trumpeter Howard McGhee's group then into Dizzy Gillespie's ground breaking big band (1949-50). Heath was on his way now on the tenor to freelance work with everybody on the scene in New York including Miles Davis and J.J. Johnson (check out those Blue Note dates) but during all of that activity Heath picked up a nasty drug habit. Jimmy was busted in Illinois (a bad state to be arrested in) in late 1953 and drew a heavy sentence for heroin possession. He was sent to Joliet and while there used his time wisely practicing his horn and developing his writing and arranging skills and when he emerged clean and sober in 1959 he was ready. He was to be John Coltrane's replacement in Miles Davis' important band but conditions of his parole prevented him from leaving New York and travelling so the gig with Miles unfortunately didn't happen but Orrin Keepnews from Riverside records proved to be a saviour for Heath as he was signed up to that label and became one of Keepnews' favourite artists.
Jimmy's first album for Riverside was a small group affair that was excellent although not innovative.......it was called "The Thumper" and Heath was able to pick the band and played very well. Tonight's Jazz Feature is Jimmy's second Riverside release called "Really Big!" (The title was Keepnews' idea not Jimmy's) and features a big band hand picked by Jimmy and what a band! Nat Adderley and Clark Terry on trumpets and Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley playing lead alto, Tommy Flanagan and Cedar Walton splitting the piano chores, big brother Percy on bass and kid brother Albert (Tootie) on drums plus some french horns and trombones. Jimmy is inspired as a soloist on this and his arrangements are direct and swinging as are his compositions plus his take on 'Green Dolphin Street', 'My Ideal', and a fresh look at Bobby Timmons' 'Dat Dere'. Keepnews in his updated notes (worth the price of the CD) financed this date as a gift to Jimmy (big band dates were expensive propositions for small Jazz labels like Riverside). Jimmy Heath proved to the world that he was really back on the scene to take care of serious business and he's still doing it to this day.....long live Jimmy Heath!
As an addenda; this album is part of the 'Keepnews Collection' that is being put out by Concord. Orrin has been given carte blanche to select albums that he loves and produced in his long career. Yes, most of us have these recordings but some have been issued with previously unissued tracks and the sound is state of the art and they are not expensive. The real bonus is Keepnews' new and updated and frank and honest liner essays..... he is an excellent writer and his insights are sometimes very moving and reveal things that even the veteran Jazz listeners will find fascinating. Check out "Really Big!' tonight on the Jazz Feature at 11pm. Better still, check out the whole show starting at 9pm.