Home » Jazz Articles » Heath Brothers: Endurance

Heath Brothers: Endurance

By Joel Roberts
November 11, 2009
Sign in to view read count

Endurance is a fitting word to describe Jimmy and Albert "Tootie" Heath, the veteran mainstreamers whose new release is their first since the death of their brother Percy four years ago.

Jimmy Heath, who just celebrated his 83rd birthday, remains a titan on the tenor saxophone (and occasionally the soprano), playing with the relaxed confidence and hard-earned wisdom of a certified jazz master. (The NEA honored him as such in 2003, one year after Percy.) His tone is warm and inviting, as are his bebop-based compositions, which account for seven of the album's nine tracks. Standouts include the breezy opener "Changes"; "Wall to Wall," a tune that opens with dramatic Coltrane-esque flourishes before morphing into a sort of upbeat Art Blakey march and the alluring Brazilian number "Rio Dawn."

Younger brother Tootie Heath, 73, continues to be one of the most tasteful, understated drummers in all of jazz, never reaching for attention, but never missing a beat. The talented young bassist David Wong bravely fills Percy's chair, performing especially beautifully on Jimmy's tribute to his late brother, "From a Lonely Bass," a tune that strongly recalls Ellington's classic "Solitude." The group's longtime pianist Jeb Patton rounds out the ensemble and contributes one of the date's most energetic and modern compositions, "Dusk in the City." Endurance is a sterling example of straight-ahead jazz, as authentic and heartfelt as it gets. Long may the Heath Brothers prosper.

Track Listing

Changes; Wall To Wall; You Or Me; Ballad from Leadership Suite; Dusk In The City; Two Tees; Autumn in New York; From A Lonely Bass; The Rio Dawn.

Personnel

Jimmy Heath: tenor sax, soprano sax (tracks 5 & 8); Jeb Patton: piano; David Wong: bass; Albert "Tootie" Heath: drums; Claudio Roditi: shaker (track 9).

Album information

Title: Endurance | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Jazz Legacy Productions

Post a comment about this album

FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ

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.

WE NEED YOUR 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.