Jimmy Heath
James Edward Heath (born October 25, 1926), nicknamed Little Bird, is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger and big band leader. He is the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.
Biography
Heath originally played alto saxophone, but, after the influence of Charlie Parker on his work for Howard McGhee and Dizzy Gillespie in the late 1940s, he earned the nickname "Little Bird" (Parker's nickname was "Bird") and he switched to tenor saxophone.
During World War II, Heath was rejected for the draft for being under the weight limit. From late 1945 through most of 1946 he performed with the Nat Towles band. In 1946 he formed his own band, which was a fixture on the Philly jazz scene until 1949. John Coltrane was one of four saxophonists in this band, which played gigs with Charlie Parker and also at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Although Heath recalls that the band recorded a few demos on acetate, it never released any recordings, and its arrangements were lost at a Chicago train station. The band dissolved in 1949 so that Heath could join Dizzy Gillespie's band.
Podcasts:
Jimmy Heath
ALBUMS
- The Thumper released: 2007
- The Quota released: 2007
- Triple Threat released: 2006
- Jam Gems "Live" at the Left Bank released: 2005
- Picture of Heath released: 1998
- Swamp Seed released: 1997
- On the Trail released: 1997
- The Time and the Place released: 1994
- Little Man Big Band released: 1992
- New Picture released: 1985
- Love and Understanding released: 1974
- The Gap Sealer released: 1972
- All Members released: 1961
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