Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Percy Heath: A Love Song

177

Percy Heath: A Love Song

By

Sign in to view read count
Percy Heath: A Love Song
Being a little late to hop on the bandwagon about last month's release of this first album from Percy Heath, I would like to avoid giving you more of the plaudits of Heath's magnificent career and accomplishments that you've already read, and simply offer my congratulations upon this effort.

The music on A Love Song can stand by itself. Heath has contributed four of the seven tracks, with one from the late Roland Hanna, one from John Lewis, and a new composition from pianist Jeb Patton. In order to provide some space for Heath's expertise on cello, bassist Peter Washington has been included on some tracks. Understandably, you can expect a lot of bass and cello solo during the course of this session.

The title song was performed, unaccompanied, but never recorded, at the funeral of bass legend Milt Hinton and allows Heath the moment of tribute for his old friend and colleague. "Watergate Blues" has been recorded several times but usually with Milt Jackson or John Lewis stating the theme. Heath must have relished the opportunity to play the melody, and solo, on cello, with a full rhythm section as Peter Washington provides the pulse. Of the hundreds of versions of "Django" that Heath has performed, this one is unique in that it affords him the chance to state the melody on bass followed, at the two minute mark, with Patton's familiar piano intro to the tune. Roland Hanna's "Century Rag" was arranged by Patton and provides a dazzling showcase for the pianist that is centered around stride technique.

The ambitious "Suite for Pop" is Heath's remembrance of his father, divided into four segments that alternately show sadness and loss and then joy and rebirth. The closer, "Hanna's Mood," is a Patton homage to his mentor. The result is a moving performance, alternately swirling and lyrical.

A Love Song is short enough to listen to on multiple occasions, gaining new insight each time. Jeb Patton is one talented pianist/arranger/composer and I regret passing up the opportunity to see him last summer. Relegated to a second-line bass position, Washington is all pulse—and Tootie Heath is all business on the pots and pans.

Track Listing

A Love Song, Watergate Blues, Django, Century Rag, No More Weary Blues, Suite for Pop, Hanna's Mood

Personnel

Percy Heath
bass, acoustic

Percy Heath--cello and bass; Jeb Patton--piano; Peter Washington--bass; Albert "Tootie" Heath-drums

Album information

Title: A Love Song | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Unknown label

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.