Customer Reviews

Nice People

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
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~ Jimmy Heath is a sax player, composer, arranger who deserves more recognition; and this 53 minute compilation CD is a great place to start for the uninitiated. The CD compiles the great hard bopper's sessions recorded for Riverside between 1959 and 1964 in settings ranging from quintet to tenet. Seven of the ten tracks originate from the pen of Jimmy Heath and show his swinging, sophisticated style. All but one of the arrangements are by Jimmy. The quintet numbers may remind the listener of Horace Silver. The larger group tunes may remind the listener of Dizzy Gillespie's band from this same era. While all of the personnel (listed below) do a great job in both solo and accompanying roles, it is Heath's moments in the spotlight that stand out for their energy and innovation. Comparisons have often been drawn between Jimmy and his close friend John Coltrane in terms of attack, especially the music of Coltrane during his Atlantic period. Likewise, Dexter Gordon was a strong influence on Jimmy's playing.
~ The CD includes informative liner notes by Orrin Keepnews, who produced the original sessions.
~ A listing of the personnel will give you some idea of the high quality of the music on this CD: Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone); Pat Patrick (baritone saxophone); Clark Terry, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Nat Adderley (cornet); Dick Berg, Julius Watkins, James Buffington (French horn); Curtis Fuller, Tom McIntosh, Don Butterfield (trombone); Harold Mabern, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Kelly, Cedar Walton (piano); Connie Kay, Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums). An interesting point is that on every track Jimmy has at least one, and often two, of his brothers Percy and Albert joining him.
~ "Nice People" is a great single-CD introduction to the work of an under-rated tenor sax player, composer and arranger. The only reason for not giving this CD the five star rating is that the producers have limited the CD to only 53 minutes. It would have been great to hear more of this excellent music.