JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER HOLDS 75TH BIRTHDAY BASH FOR JIMMY HEATH

For the Opening Night Series of its "Jump In" 2001-02 season, Jazz at Lincoln Center (J@LC) will produce a 75th birthday bash for one of music's great tenor saxophonists, composers, bandleaders, and educators - JIMMY HEATH (born October 25, 1926). Taking place on Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20, 2001 at 8pm in Alice Tully Hall, "He Walked with Giants—Jimmy Heath's 75th Birthday Party" will feature Mr. Heath performing his classic compositions, premiering a new work for the LINCOLN CENTER JAZZ ORCHESTRA (LCJO), and unveiling several new big-band arrangements - all while joined by an incredible line-up of musicians.

Tickets at $50 and $35 are available at the Alice Tully Hall box office, by calling CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500, or via www.jazzatlincolncenter.org.

In the first half, Jimmy Heath will perform in small ensembles - from a duo to a septet - featuring his brothers PERCY HEATH (bass) and ALBERT "TOOTIE" HEATH (drums), as well as SLIDE HAMPTON (trombone), ANTONIO HART (alto saxophone), and JEB PATTON (piano). For the second half, Mr. Heath will conduct the LCJO with WYNTON MARSALIS in new big-band arrangements of his classic compositions, including Gemini, and in the premiere of a concerto for Mr. Hart, Like a Son. The LCJO will also premiere a new work by Mr. Marsalis, which is dedicated to Mr. Heath and based on harmonies he provided.

Listing Information:

Jimmy Heath was born on October 25, 1926 in Philadelphia and began playing alto saxophone at age 14. In 1947 he and his brother Percy Heath, a bassist, went to New York as members of Howard McGhee's group, and in 1949-51 he played in Dizzy Gillespie's big band and sextet. His style was profoundly influenced by that of Charlie Parker, and he acquired the nickname "Little Bird", but the comparison ceased when he took up tenor saxophone. Soon after, Mr. Heath began leading a series of big bands; one of the earliest included John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Cal Massey, Johnny Coles, and Nelson Boyd. In 1959 he replaced Coltrane for two months in Miles Davis's Quintet, then formed his own group. In 1965 he began leading groups with Art Farmer, and in 1975 he formed a quartet with his brothers Percy on bass and Albert "Tootie" on drums, as well as Stanley Cowell on piano. In the 1980s and 90s, the Heath Brothers Band performed only intermittently, but has recently been performing more frequently, with Jeb Patton on piano.

Mr. Heath has performed on more than 100 recordings, including over seven with the Heath Brothers and 10 as a leader. During his career, he was written more than 100 compositions, many of which have become jazz standards, having been recorded by artists including Art Farmer, Cannonball Adderley, Clark Terry, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Milt Jackson, Ahmad Jamal, Dexter Gordon, and others. He has also written numerous suites, quartets, and symphonic works, including the ambitious Afro-American Suite of Evolution for a 30-piece ensemble. A leader in jazz education, Mr. Heath was also a professor of music and director of the jazz studies faculty at Queens College from 1987 to 1997.

Among the numerous awards and honors Mr. Heath has received are a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Foundation of America; the Carter Woodson Foundation Award; the Living Legends of Jazz Award from the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia; appointment of the Board of Trustees of the Thelonious Monk Institute and it's Founders Award; the Queen's College President's Medal; and an invitation to perform at the Clinton White House. He has performed on several J@LC concerts, including premiering a commissioned work with his big band in August 1994, and most recently as a guest on James Moody's 75th Birthday Concert in April 2000.

Jazz at Lincoln Center is the world's largest not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to jazz. With the world-renowned Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and a comprehensive array of guest artists, Jazz at Lincoln Center advances a unique vision for the continued development of the art of jazz by producing a year-round schedule of education, performance and broadcast events for audiences of all ages. These productions include concerts, national and international tours, residencies, a weekly national radio program, television broadcasts, recordings, publications, an annual high school jazz band competition and festival, a band director academy, a jazz appreciation curriculum for children, advanced training through the Juilliard Institute for Jazz Studies, music publishing, children's concerts, lectures, film programs, and student and educator workshops. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis and Executive Director Bruce MacCombie, Jazz at Lincoln Center will produce more than 400 events during its 2001-02 season. Currently, Jazz at Lincoln Center is building its new home - Frederick P. Rose Hall - the first education, performance, and broadcast facility devoted to jazz, slated to open in fall 2004.

Delta Air Lines is the official airline of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

For more information on J@LC, please visit www.jazzatlincolncenter.org