Danica McKellar, Floyd Cardoz, Jimmy Heath, Gene Puerling and .....

At JazzWax, Yes, #DanicaMcKellar , #FloydCardoz , #JimmyHeath , #GenePuerling and much more... https://t.co/hTu8u9rwwg pic.twitter.com/xj15CHTgIt

— Marc Myers (@JazzWax) 11 de março de 2017

#JimmyHeath #RandyWeston & more ...

Live now: Jimmy Heath, Randy Weston, & more celebrate record producer Orrin Keepnews! Watch: https://t.co/XvdVTTxaE4 pic.twitter.com/6QsFS3KtDp

— JazzatLincolnCenter (@jazzdotorg) September 8, 2016

Jimmy Heath

The Next Generation - Jimmy Heath: https://t.co/QzMJvBIoz1 via @YouTube

— jazzvideoguy (@jazzvideoguy) June 24, 2016

Passing the Torch, featuring Jimmy Heath

New Documentary from Bret Primack: Passing the Torch featuring Jimmy Heath

Bret Primack, aka the Jazz Video Guy, has started production on a new film, “Passing the Torch.”  The documentary, which is being crowdfunded, is a celebration of the sharing of creativity and knowledge from one generation to another featuring the tenor saxophonist and composer, Jimmy Heath, who turns ninety this October, and the Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington band, composed of high school instrumentalists. 

This past January, Mr. Heath and the TJI’s premiere big band opened the Tucson Jazz Festival and something magical happened between the master musician and these young students.  Doug Tidaback, an educator who runs the TJI along with bassist Scott Black and saxophonist Brice Winston, felt that the vibe between Jimmy Heath and his students was so strong that he invited the Jazz legend back to record with the Ellington band, which has won a number of Essentially Ellington competitions at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

When filmmaker Bret Primack, a fifteen-year resident of Tucson, learned of the recording, he decided to document the proceedings.  “I was at the January concert and what happened between Jimmy and those kids came as no surprise.  I’ve known Jimmy since 1978 and in addition to being a superb tenor saxophonist and composer, he has a gentle, humorous, non-threatening approach to teaching that always produces memorable results.”

The recording session takes place this coming weekend and on Saturday, May 28, there will be a one-hour live Facebook broadcast at 3pm EDT live from the session.  After the broadcast, the content will available on demand on Facebook and YouTube.

“I didn’t plan it, but this will be my second film featuring a ninety year old musician," Primack reports. My first documentary feature Taking Charge, featured famed big band lead trumpeter, Pauly Cohen.  I figure, if these guys are still doing it at ninety, there’s hope for me yet."

To help fund the film:
http://tinyurl.com/helpfundpassingthetorch

To view the live broadcast from the recording session: 
https://www.facebook.com/passingthetorchmovie/

To contact filmmaker Bret Primacy (jazzvideoguy@gmail.com)

Jimmy Heath 90th Birthday Celebration

2016-03-07

Showtime: 8:00PM

Jimmy Heath has long been recognized as a brilliant instrumentalist and a magnificent composer and arranger. The middle brother of the legendary Heath Brothers (bassist Percy and drummer Tootie) and the father of Mtume, he has performed with nearly all the jazz greats of the last 50 years, from Howard McGhee, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis to Wynton Marsalis.

Heath's career got off to an early start – in 1948 at the age of 21, he performed in the First International Jazz Festival in Paris with McGhee, sharing the stage with Coleman Hawkins, Slam Stewart, and Erroll Garner. One of his earliest big bands (1947-1948) in Philadelphia included John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Specs Wright, Cal Massey, Johnny Coles, Ray Bryant, and Nelson Boyd. Charlie Parker and Max Roach even sat in on one occasion. 

read more: http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/schedule/moreinfo.cgi?id=13879

Jimmy Heath

Uploaded on Sep 10, 2010

Tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath performing his original composition "The Quota" with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Julius Watkins on French Horn, Cedar Walton on piano, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Al "Tootie" Heath.

Jimmy Heath: Why Ben Webster Learned the Lyrics

The Jazz Video Guy captures legendary saxophonist during Before & After session moderated by Larry Appelbaum

At this year's Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, an annual event held in February in Rockville, Maryland, JT's Larry Appelbaum conducted a "Before and After" with Jimmy Heath. Larry graciously allowed me to document this interview. (Jimmy's entire "Before and After" appears in the April print edition of JazzTimes.)

Jimmy Heath has long been recognized as a brilliant instrumentalist and a magnificent composer and arranger. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 25, 1926, the middle Heath brother (bassist Percy is older, drummer Albert (“Tootie”) the baby), his genius first flourished in high school as an alto saxophonist. In fact, his first nickname was "Little Bird." One of Jimmy’s earliest big bands (1947-1948) in Philadelphia included John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Specs Wright, Cal Massey, Johnny Coles, Ray Bryant, and Nelson Boyd. Charlie Parker and Max Roach sat in on one occasion.

Not surprisingly, Jimmy Heath is a master storyteller and oh what stories he can tell. Although he's approaching eighty five, his memory is still intact, as is his potent wit. Thankfully, his playing reflects that, as well. Spending time with Jimmy Heath is always entertaining and enlightening. I'm happy that I was able to capture that here.04/08/11  •  By Bret Primack

http://jazztimes.com/sections/jazzvideoguy/articles/27415-jimmy-heath-why-ben-webster-learned-the-lyrics

Jimmy Heath with the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra

In Fall 2005 Jimmy Heath lead the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra in playing his original bigband compositions.