Jimmy Heath Ensemble Live at Morgan College, Baltimore - 1965 (audio only)
Jimmy Heath Ensemble Live at Morgan College, Baltimore, May 25, 1965.
-Lineup:
Jimmy Heath: Tenor Saxophone
Sonny Red: Alto Saxophone
Pepper Adams: Baritone Saxophone
Kenny Dorham: Trumpet
Cedar Walton: Trumpet
Reggie Workman: Bass
Roy Brooks: Drums
Jimmy Heath, nicknamed Little Bird, was the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath. He originally played alto saxophone. He earned the nickname “Little Bird” after his work for Howard McGhee and Dizzy Gillespie in the late 1940s, during which his playing displayed influences from Charlie Parker (Parker’s nickname was “Bird”). He then switched to tenor saxophone.
From late 1945 through most of 1946, he performed with the Nat Towles band. In 1946, he formed his own band, which was a fixture on the Philadelphia jazz scene until 1949.[3] The band 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. The band perfo