I walked with giants : the autobiography of Jimmy Heath

Composer of more than 100 jazz pieces, three-time Grammy nominee, and performer on more than 125 albums, Jimmy Heath earned a place of honor in the history of jazz. Over his long career, Heath knew many jazz giants such as Charlie Parker and played with other innovators, including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and especially Dizzy Gillespie. Heath also won their respect and friendship. In this extraordinary autobiography, the legendary Heath creates a "dialogue" with musicians and family members. As in jazz, where improvisation by one performer prompts another to riff on the same theme, I Walked with Giants juxtaposes Heath's account of his life and career with recollections from jazz giants about life on the road and making music on the world's stages. His memories of playing with his equally legendary brothers Percy and Albert (aka "Tootie") dovetail with their recollections. Heath reminisces about a South Philadelphia home filled with music and a close-knit family that hosted musicians performing in the city's then thriving jazz scene. Milt Jackson recalls, "I went to their house for dinner...Jimmy's father put Charlie Parker records on and told everybody that we had to be quiet till dinner because he had Bird on. ..When I [went] to Philly, I'd always go to their house." Today Heath performs, composes, and works as a music educator and arranger. By turns funny, poignant, and extremely candid, Heath's story captures the rhythms of a life in jazz. Jimmy Heath is widely recognized as one of the greats in jazz. A saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator, Heath grew up in Philadelphia with his renowned brothers, Percy, the longtime bassist with the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Albert "Tootie," a highly respected drummer. The three formed the Heath Brothers Band in the 70s. Jimmy Heath directed the Jazz Studies master's degree program in performance at Queens College (CUNY). Joseph McLaren is Professor of English at Hofstra University and the author of Langston Hughes: Folk Dramatist in the Protest Tradition, 1921-1943, and editor of several additional titles Composer of more than 100 jazz pieces, three-time Grammy nominee, and performer on more than 125 albums, Jimmy Heath has earned a place of honor in the history of jazz. Over his long career, Heath knew many jazz giants such as Charlie Parker and played with other innovators including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and especially Dizzy Gillespie. Heath also won their respect and friendship. In this extraordinary autobiography, the legendary Heath creates a OC dialogueOCO with musicians and family members. As in jazz, where improvisation by one performer prompts another to riff on the same theme, I Walked with Giants juxtaposes HeathOCOs account of his life and career with recollections from jazz giants about life on the road and making music on the worldOCOs stages. His memories of playing with his equally legendary brothers Percy and Albert (aka OC TootieOCO) dovetail with their recollections. Heath reminisces about a South Philadelphia home filled with music and a close-knit family that hosted musicians performing in the cityOCOs then thriving jazz scene. Milt Jackson recalls, OC I went to their house for dinnerOC JimmyOCOs father put Charlie Parker records on and told everybody that we had to be quiet till dinner because he had Bird onOC . When I [went] to Philly, IOCOd always go to their house.OCOaaa Today Heath performs, composes, and works as a music educator and arranger. By turns funny, poignant, and extremely candid, HeathOCOs story captures the rhythms of a life in jazz. Composer Of More Than 100 Jazz Pieces, Three-time Grammy Nominee, And Performer On More Than 125 Albums, Saxophonist Jimmy Heath Has Earned A Place Of Honor In The History Of Jazz. Over His Long Career, Heath Knew Many Jazz Greats, Such As Charlie Parker, And Played With Other Innovators, Including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, And Especially Dizzy Gillespie. Along The Way, Heath Won Both Their Respect And Their Friendship. In This Autobiography, The Legendary Heath Creates A Dialogue With Musicians And Family Members. As In Jazz, Where Improvisation By One Performer Prompts Another To Riff On The Same Theme, I Walked With Giants Juxtaposes Heath's Account Of His Life And Career With Recollections From Jazz Giants About Life On The Road And Making Music On The World's Stages.--jacket. Finding A Rhythm : Philadelphia And Wilmington, North Carolina -- Big Band Connections -- Organizing And Melodizing -- High Note-low Note : Dizzy And Miles -- Sharp Dissonance To Smooth Harmony With Mona -- On The Riverside -- Maintaining The Groove -- Stretching Out : Jazz Transitions -- Marchin' On : The Heath Brothers -- For The Public : The Heath Brothers -- Reharmonization : Queens College -- Up Tempo Mode -- Aroma Of The Roses -- Endless Stroll. Jimmy Heath And Joseph Mclaren ; Foreword By Bill Cosby ; Introduction By Wynton Marsalis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes Discography: P. [295]-299. Contents 10 Foreword: In the Basement, by Bill Cosby 12 Acknowledgments 16 Introduction, by Wynton Marsalis 18 Part One: First Chorus (1926–1949) 20 1. Finding a Rhythm: Philadelphia and Wilmington, North Carolina 22 2. Big Band Connections 39 3. Organizing and Melodizing 61 Part Two: Second Chorus (1949–1969) 78 4. High Note–Low Note: Dizzy and Miles 80 5. Sharp Dissonance to Smooth Harmony with Mona 97 6. On the Riverside 118 7. Maintaining the Groove 145 Part Three: Third Chorus (1969–1986) 162 8. Stretching Out: Jazz Transitions 164 9. Marchin’ On: The Heath Brothers 181 10. “For the Public”: The Heath Brothers 201 Part Four: Fourth Chorus (1986–) 222 11. Reharmonization: Queens College 224 12. Up-Tempo Mode 249 13. Aroma of the Roses 272 14. Endless Stroll 292 Appendixes 304 Appendix A: Unique Names 306 Appendix B: Honors and Awards 310 Appendix C: Selected Discography 314 Appendix D: Compositions 320 Appendix E: Chronology 322 Index 329 Finding a rhythm : Philadelphia and Wilmington, NC Big band connections Organizing and melodizing High note low note : Dizzy and Miles Sharp dissonance to smooth harmony with Mona On the riverside Maintaining the groove Stretching out : jazz transitions Marchin' on : the Heath Brothers "For the public" : the Heath Brothers Reharmonization : Queens College Up tempo mode Aroma of the roses Endless stroll.