Dwarsliggers en buitenbeentjes; DRUMMER ALBERT HEATH POWERS NAT ADDERLEY’S BRASS AND CANNONBALL ADDERLEY’S REEDS.
During this episode of Dwarsliggers en Buitenbeentjes, we will once again focus on Albert Heath’s oeuvre. After his two brothers passed away – bassist Percy Heath in 2005 and tenor saxophonist/composer Jimmy Heath in 2020 – Albert Heath himself, who was born in Philadelphia on 31 May 1935, died on 3 April 2024.
Youngest Heath clan member Albert was affectionately known in the family as ‘Tootie’, a nickname his colleagues often called him as well.
In this episode, we will hear Albert Heath perform with two different groups. In cornetist Nat Adderley’s (1931-2000) sextet, he has to provide a swinging rhythm section for an unusual and somewhat dark-sounding frontline consisting of three brass instruments —cornet, trombone, and tuba. Nat Adderley’s older brother Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley (1928—1975), also liked to call on Albert Heath’s skills. For LP Cannonball Takes Charge (Riverside), ‘Tootie’ formed a solid rhythm tandem with his brother Percy Heath, who was able to step away from the Modern Jazz Quartet for a while. Percy Heath was bassist of this iconic quartet from its start in 1952 until The Last Concert (Atlantic) in 1997. After Connie Kay passed away in November 1994, John Lewis. who led the M.J.Q., appointed Albert Heath as Connie Kay’s successor. This way, the Heath Brothers’ rhythm tandem significantly influenced the final years of the M.J.Q.
PLAYLIST
NAT ADDERLEY SEXTET: Nat Adderley—cornet, Slide Hampton—trombone, tuba on # 1, Laymon Jackson—tuba, double bass on # 1, Wynton Kelly—piano, Sam Jones—double bass, cello on # 1, Albert Heath—drums
# 2 t/m # 6 arranged by Slide Hampton
# 1 Blue Concept (Gigi Gryce) (7:37)
# 2 Little Miss (Duke Pearson) (4:28)
# 3 What Next (Duke Pearson) (3:20)
# 4 Moving (Slide Hampton) (5:03)
# 5 Israel (John Carisi) (3:53)
# 6 Accents (Slide Hampton) (5:40)
Source: Nat Adderley Sextet: MUCH BRASS/ Riverside L.P. 1143
Recording: 23 and 27 March 1959, Reeves Sound Studios, New York City
JULIAN “CANNONBALL” ADDERLEY QUARTET: Cannonball Adderley—alto sax, Wynton Kelly—piano, Percy Heath—double bass, Albert “Tootie” Heath—drums
# 7 Barefoot Sunday Blues (Julian Adderley) (7:00)
# 8 Poor Butterfly (R.Hubbell-J.Golden) (5:08)
# 9 I Remember You (V.Schertzinger-J.Mercer) (6:52)
#10 Barefoot Sunday Blues (alternate take) (Julian Adderley) (7:47)
Source: Cannonball Adderley Quartet: CANNONBALL TAKES CHARGE / Riverside L.P. 1148/ Capitol C.D. (2002) with two alternate takes
Recording: 12 May 1959, Reeves Sound Studios, New York City
picture: Cannonball and Nat Adderley
