Master Class: Percy Heath Backstage Interview
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- Опубліковано 25 січ 2012
- In this clip from www.artistshousemusic.org - The 4th Master class in the fall series featured two of the incredible Heath Brothers, Percy and Jimmy. The third brother Albert was not attending that day. Coming from a musical family and known as one of the first families of jazz, the Philadelphia brothers are known for their impeccable compositions, arrangements and love of bebop. Each brother became musically successful in their own right and played with many of the bebop pioneers such as the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band. The rhythm section became known as the famous Modern Jazz Quartet after Percy succeeded Ray Brown, launching a 43 year career. Jimmy also played with Gillespie, exchanging his alto sax for a tenor and is a talented composer-arranger. Throughout the master class, you can sense the love of music the brothers have to this day.
This is a treasure. My man died soon after this interview. RIP
thank you, the best thing I've listened to in a long time, genuine and eloquent!!
Percy Heath Born April 30, 1923 died April 28, 2005. He is a legendary bassist and beloved by his fellow bassists and Jazz Musicians. You are missed by us all !!
Percy Heath - WWII Tuskegee Airman. Thank you for your air missions and service.
The Heath brothers were at the Stanford Jazz Workshop for a few years. Percy thinks he's not a teacher because he's not a didactic presenter. He teaches by example, by stories, by analysis of the various players in his long career.
He and Jimmy had a kind of brotherly, wrangling communication style that could be very funny. They arrived way early at a Half Moon Bay gig the week after Stanford, and so did I. I sat close and they included me in the conversation after recognizing me from the workshop. Here's an exchange:
Percy (going through sheet music): Jimmy, I got your fax of your new arrangement?
Jimmy: What fax? I didn't send you no fax.
Percy (picking up the pitch a little): Well, WHERE DID I GET IT FROM??
This is one of the most wonderful and enjoyable interviews I have watched on UA-cam. This clip is a genuine treasure to the jazz community. Even via the medium of the Internet, it was an immense privilege for me to listen to his warm and insightful talk. Thank you for sharing this clip.
I'm his namesake- What a wonderful stylish gentleman...who played bass like no other...WW 2 hero...warmth, strength, intelligence and most importantly: sense of Funk and Fun!!...miss him xxx
It's called master class but i feel like i just got to share a doobie with Percy Heath. Love hearing the OGs talk and transmit soul. This is actually the best kind of music lesson
Thanks so much for posting.
Only 13 minutes into this and my Comcast has already paid for itself.
THANK YOU
&
God Bless You
Percy Heath !!
Being a bassist from Philly, I really appreciate being refreshed on my musical heritage. I started playing bass by tuning my cello to bass tones. I was an adventure but I got it done until I got one.
I love the MJQ. It is nice to find out that Pearcy Heath was such a pleasant and down to earth guy. He had his priorities right and seem to appreciate all the good things he had in his life, family, friends, his art... Beautiful guy.
My beloved teacher! I miss you man!
Thank you for your wonderful playing, you will be missed. SIP.
Iconic , humble giant Mr. Heath, I wish he had mentioned, or asked to mention such bassists as Gary Peacock, by describing methods, and as well ,the 'Scotty" he was referring to in the interview, I construed to be Scott La Faro. I wish he were here to specify and clarify. Thanks.
Listen to him on 'Lee Konitz at Storyville' and everywhere else. An ostensible and extensible bass GIANT; and an extremely humble man.
what a wonderful soul he got...
Wow very nice & I wish it was 2 hrs as I really enjoyed! Percy is a class act & a great musician! Jimmy as well, really miss those gentlemen!
Wow! What an amazing interview. Such a great guy such talent. I can't imagine what it takes to play like that.
Amazing thank you. God bless Percy
Best bass sound: Percy Heath.
Best interview i have ever listened to... thanks percy!
@aarfeld You are most welcome. He was a great man and is missed.
This is beautiful John - Thank You so much, man! {Red Sullivan - formerly Irish now living in Rio de Janeiro}. ABRAÇOS!
..yes, Percy,was one beautiful man..who knew his Role..Bless The Late Percy Heath...kindly, Danny Barrett
This is beautiful. Thank you for posting it.
What a beautiful spirit. Thank you for this interview.
I loved listening to Mr. heath reminisce. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you very much for this....
A true legend and a true bass player
Beautiful. Just wonderful. Thank you.
wow, thanks for this clip! as a bass player myself, I especially enjoy hearing guys like this talk
thank you!
thanks!
Simply beautiful - what more can you say?
ArtistsHouseMusic Percy has his Cello out.
i want that peanut candy recipe too!
Great interview ,from the heart.Saw him manny times in NYC,Thanks .
This is great! Similar stories existed among many back then! What stories do the current muiscians have?
Ofc he was Humble, the best bass players know their role in Music is never center stage. Yet we know with out us... there isn't music no rhythm! ;3. But yea man... love his sound! Love his humility... just makes him an even musician!
@thecrashinghighways He said Jimmy Blanton.
Stanley FRICKIN clarke... GERMANTOWN.....BEST BASS PLAYER OF HIS GEHERATION
pingy pingy
someone forgot to adjust that damn snare before this
The great "Eye ,es,aye...Aye...Si-Es 'em ,eye ,...tea...ache"...the richest "man" in These United States...Yahweh Elohim...God's Son...
George "Jack" Johnson...Isaac Smith YHWH ELOHIM
kids dont try to play high
lmao
I love this guy and I think I agree with him about 90%. Yes the bass has a rhythmic roll in a band, and if that is your only goal as a bass player, that's cool. You will work and have a successful career just doing that; however, don't put down the bass soloists. I am a bass soloist and I think it is very important to have bass solos. The upper register is perfect for this because the extensions (tensions #9, #11, 13etc.) sound better up there.and sound like crap if you play them low. If the notes were not supposed to be played, then why are they there? It is a stupid mistake to tell a bass soloist "why don't you play guitar or cello?" the notes overlap with the range of the cello, but sound a lot fatter on the bass. I sense a bit of jealousy because most of the guys who say that… can't solo. I don't agree with the "pingy pingy" thing. Everyone has a different style.
Eliseo Borrero back to roots, Dude. Walking Bass rules
+Eliseo Borrero - The last thing Percy Heath was was jealous
Victor wooten can solo tap the hell out of a bass, but he feels the same way Percy does on bass solos. people do not have interest in bass solos- the care about keeping the groove. nooowwww, if u can solo a groove, now that's smokin!
Don't be insecure and do your thing !
his bass lines were rather melodic and at time contrapuntal, so I think he knew how to do more than just keep time. But I quite like that the MJQ kept Bags and occasionally John Lewis as their dedicated soloists. They had a great knack for clever arrangements/song structure