The Heath Brothers was an American jazz group, formed in 1975 in Philadelphia, by the brothers Jimmy (tenor saxophone), Percy (bass), and Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums); and pianist Stanley Cowell.[1] Tony Purrone (guitar) and Mtume (percussion) joined the group later. Tootie left in 1978,[1] and was replaced by Akira Tana for a short period, before returning in 1982. They also added other sidemen for some of their recording dates.[2]
| Heath Brothers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Years active | 1975–2010 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
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The group issued four singles between 1978 and 1981, "Mellowdrama", "For the Public", "Use it (Don't Abuse it)" and "Dreamin'". "Dreamin'", a track from the 1980 LP, "Expressions of Life", had the most airplay in the UK despite not reaching the UK chart.
The group with just two of the brothers, Jimmy and Tootie, and additional sidemen as needed, continued to perform and record after Percy died in 2005. The DVD, Brotherly Jazz: The Heath Brothers, recorded in 2004, shortly before Percy's death, was one of the last times the three brothers played together, and chronicled the brothers' personal lives, as well as socio-political issues many jazz musicians dealt with in the later 20th century, including jail, drugs, discrimination and segregation.[3] The 2009 CD Endurance was the first without Percy, and features seven original numbers by Jimmy, including "From a Lonely Bass", composed in memory of his late brother.[4]
Percy Heath died on April 28, 2005.[5] Jimmy Heath died on January 19, 2020.[6] Tootie died on April 3, 2024.[7]
Discography
edit- Marchin' On (1975) (Strata-East Records)
- Paris '76 (1976) (Sam Records)
- Passin' Thru (1978) (Columbia Records)
- Live at the Public Theatre (1979) (Columbia Records)
- In Motion (1979) (Columbia Records)
- Expressions of Life (1980) (Columbia Records)
- Brotherly Love (1981) (Antilles Records)
- Brothers and Others (1981) (Antilles Records)
- Dave's Haze (1997) (Concord Records)
- As We Were Saying (1997) (Concord Records)[8]
- Jazz Family (1998) (Concord Records)[9]
- Pat Metheny & The Heath Brothers: The Move to the Groove Session (2000) (West Wind)
- Endurance (2009) (Jazz Legacy Productions)[10][11]
Videography
edit- Brotherly Jazz (2006) (DanSun Productions)
References
edit- ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 196. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
- ^ "Heath Brothers | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Ken Dryden, "Brotherly Jazz" (review), All About Jazz, May 6, 2007.
- ^ Larry Taylor, "Heath Brothers: Endurance (2009)", All About Jazz, October 15, 2009.
- ^ "Percy Heath | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Jazz Saxophone Legend Jimmy Heath Has Died". Npr.org. January 19, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "Albert "Tootie" Heath, percussive paragon of modern jazz, dies at 88". WRTI. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Douglas Payne, "The Heath Brothers: As We Were Saying...", All About Jazz, September 1, 1997.
- ^ Jim Santella, "The Heath Brothers: Jazz Family" (review), All About Jazz, December 1, 1998.
- ^ The Heath Brothers, Endurance, Jazz Legacy Productions.
- ^ Joel Roberts, "Heath Brothers: Endurance (2009)", All About Jazz, November 11, 2009.
External links
edit- Lee Fury (March 25, 2003). "A Night With the Heath Brothers: The Opening Act That Closed the Show". All About Jazz. Retrieved December 23, 2006.
- "The Heath Brothers: Giants of Jazz". Rick Condit, March 2003. Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved December 23, 2006.
- JimmyHeath.com biography of Jimmy Heath
- "Albert "Tootie" Heath", Drummerworld.
- A complete Heath Brothers discography on musicmatch.com. Archived 2018-12-15 at the Wayback Machine
- Jean-Michel Reisser, "The Heath Brothers" biographies and CD review of Brotherly Love, Cosmopolis, September 1, 2008, in French.
- Brotherly Jazz: The Heath Brothers DVD Documentary
- Patrick Jarenwattananon, "The Heath Brothers - Live at the Village Vanguard", NPR Music, July 6, 2011. (Listen, 1:11:04.)