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The Heath Brothers: Jazz Family
by Jack Bowers
There’s no gainsaying this album’s title: Philadelphia’s Heath brothers — Jimmy, Percy and Albert (a.k.a “Tootie”) truly are a Jazz family, perhaps even Jazz royalty, if such exists. On their second release for Concord, the monstrously talented brothers have invited some close friends and long–time colleagues to take part in a first–rate session of straight–ahead Jazz that resonates with charisma and intelligence. Trumpeter Joe Wilder, also from Philly, grew up with the brothers, while guitarist Tony Purrone worked in their ...
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by AAJ Staff
If you wanted to suck, the Philadelphia jazz scene of the 1940s and '50s wasn't the place to do it. The competition was intensely fierce, and with cats like John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Smith and Benny Golson running around (when they weren't moving to nearby New York), it was generally understood that an improvisor had to give 200%. A product of Philly's rich jazz scene, The Heath Brothers are among the most talented siblings in the history of jazz. ...
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by Robert Spencer
Oh man. Does this swing from the get-go, or what? And such a deal. Not only do you get the three Heath brothers: Jimmy on tenor and alto, Percy on bass and cello, and Al ("Tootie") drums, but they’re joined by the one and only Slide Hampton on ‘bone, Stanley Cowell on piano and kalimba, Sir Roland Hanna on piano, Jon Faddis on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Mark Elf on guitar. Plus James Mtume, Jimmy’s son, on percussion.
Need I ...
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by Douglas Payne
This friendly, swinging session is Jimmy, Percy and and Albert Tootie" Heath’s first together since 1983’s Brothers and Others on Antilles. On their own, these guys have logged memorable time with the greatest names in jazz – from Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker to Thelonious Monk, Milt Jackson and, in Percy’s case, The Modern Jazz Quartet. Each is a highly sought-after player (or writer, in Jimmy’s case) who’ve survived more than four decades of the jazz life – ...
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