Jimmy Heath, on tenor saxophone, and Tootie Heath, on drums, will play with the Heath Brothers on Halloween at OCC’s Storer Auditorium.
In 1975, three siblings who grew up in Philadephia thought they’d pool their vast talents in jazz as the Heath Brothers.
The eldest, Percy Heath, played double bass. Middle man Jimmy Heath was a star of alto sax. Kid brother Albert “Tootie” was the drummer.
They’d been in the bands of Dizzie Gillespie and John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock and need I say more?
On Halloween, Jimmy and Tootie will lead David Wong on bass and Jeb Patton on piano into Storer Auditorium on the campus of Onondaga Community College for sets at 4:30 and 7 p.m. as part of the Legends of Jazz series presented by Frank Malfitano. (Percy died in 2005.) Tickets are $40, and can be purchased by calling 315-498-4772 or by clicking here.
Friday night, Jimmy and Tootie will be part of an ensemble that plays at the Apollo Theater in Harlem as part of a tribute show to honor Herbie Hancock. It’s the 13th annual “A Great Night in Harlem” event put on as a fundraiser by and for the Jazz Foundation of America.
Quincy Jones will be the presenter to Hancock.
The Heath brothers are psyched.
“The Apollo for the Jazz Arts Foundation for Herbie Hancock. Yes, I’m looking forward to it,” Jimmy says.
“I was in Herbie’s band right before he got into popular mainstream stuff,” Tootie says. “Herbie was growing all the time. I think we’ll play ‘I Had a Dream.’ ”
I interviewed both Heaths over the phone to write my weekly community blog for Syracuse public media site waer.org.
You can read that story by clicking here.
http://waer.org/post/brothers-jimmy-and-tootie-heath-jazz-matter-love
Jimmy Heath turns 88 on Saturday, and Tootie Heath will be 80 come May.
They sound excited about their music. Vibrant.
“I’m still active,” Jimmy says. “I think music is life, and life is music.”
Tootie looks up to his big brother.
“He’s the family music reservoir,” Tootie says. “I learned everything I know about music from Jimmy. He’s my favorite saxophone player. He’s my favorite player.”
Have you seen two siblings play in the same band, and if so, who were they and did they seem as if they liked or disliked the experience? Would you be more likely to pick saxophone or drums as your instrument of choice, and why? What Halloween costume would be a good choice to wear to a jazz concert?
Here’s a YouTube clip of the Heath Brothers performing live in 2012.
Mark Bialczak 
Perfectly tuned review and article, which is heartwarming in content, Mark!
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Your comment strikes the riight chord, nice tone, too, Robin! Thank you. 🙂
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That will be a Halloween treat 🙂 Be sure to post your costume! Though I don’t suppose American Gothic works at a jazz concert. Better at an art museum.
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No costume at the jazz concert for me, Liz. The costume will be saved for the party later that night. 🙂
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Music flows through their blood. Cool story, Mark. What a treat to be able to go see their concert. And, Quincy and Herbie Hancock at the Apollo Theater. Wow, this is a big deal!
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I know, I am getting a treat on Halloween, Amy! The folks in Harlem will be getting their Halloween treats a few days early though, sweet without candy!!
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talk about brotherly love, and you must have loved this interview. enjoy seeing them on halloween, mark. how cool that quincy is doing the presenting of their honor and i love their, ‘life is music…’ quote.
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It was very cool getting to talk to them both within the same hour, Beth. I loved that. And yes, Quincy and Herbie and the Heaths in the band, that’s a talented group in Harlem.
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I know two siblings who’s entire act is just the 2 of them. They play, they sing, they harmonize like no one’s business. I love family acts.
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That’s very cool, Colleen. Very nice, my friend.
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I don’t know that the Gallagher brothers, from Oasis, liked sharing the stage but Charlie and Craig Reid, The Proclaimers, have been gong strong for years and look and sound as if they love every minute of it still.
I’m impressed that the heroes above are still playing in their advanced years. Music is life indeed.
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I love the Proclaimers still, but I hear that you are right about the Gallaghers, unfortunately. And the Heaths have some longevity, don’t they?
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I would say my air drums beat out my air guitar hands down, Chum. I once had a friend look at me and say something like, “wow….never seen anyone do the air drums before”…they obviously don’t get out much.
These two brothers sound amazing.
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One time after my divorce and before my dear wife Karen I was out at a bar watching a band and this cool woman said, I love drummers, and I said without missing a beat, “I can be very percussive” and did an air drum and I earned a big laugh and a conversation. Your story made me remember that one.
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Haha…you got a big laugh from me, too. You’re awesome.
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Yes on the siblings: Micky Dolenz often tours with his sister Coco. So about “Tootie” I have to wonder where he got that name if he plays drums and not a horn. Methinks a diet of beans may be a culprit. 😉
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Oh, my, Rachel. He doesn’t say the name so much like it’s a horn, but somewhat with a shorter vowel sound, if you know what I mean. 🙂
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Ah, gotcha! 🙂
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Only $40 bucks to see two living legends? Sign up. Saw the three of them many years ago. They ain’t too bad.
I’d have lived to see the Davies brothers when The Kinks were in their prime. Born late.
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Yes, to see the Kinks doing “Celluloid Heroes” would have made my decade in the ’80s, Mark, agreed.
And I am going to see the Heath Brothers on Halloween, and will write about the legends the day after. Can’t wait.
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I’m not talking “Celluloid Heros” Kinks (although that’d been just fine). I’m talking “Victoria,” “A Well Respected Man” and “Waterloo Sunset” Kinks. That’s my dream.
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That would have been something.
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Amazing to be still playing – cool post Mark.
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I am so glad that they can still do what they love so much, Paul. Very much so.
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How fantastic to still be doing something you love and are passionate about in your eighties.
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And they can play! Sweet jazz, Rachel, sweet, sweet jazz.
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and you are right Mark – if they have still got it that matters most!
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I’ll try to keep in mind that 80 is “not so bad.” I was just wondering last week why nobody was named Percy anymore. It must have passed away like the man, but perhaps will be resurrected in a few decades. How great that music is still fresh and new to them, and that they get to honor Herbie Hancock. On another note, I can’t hardly hear folks on phones as it is. I would absolutely be straining to hear octogenarians. You must have a good ear.
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I put them on speaker so I could take notes with both hands, and dang, they came through loud and clear, both of them, both phone calls, Kerbey. Yes, that Herbie show at the Apollo will be a treat for all, I am sure. 🙂
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More siblings need to learn to LOVE one another. Great post, my friend, one that I totally enjoyed! Hope your day is a good one! Love, Amy
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You, too, Amy. Keep taking those pictures to the west! 🙂
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I began recouping flowers yesterday, Mark, and later today I am posting one of them on Petals. I have enough Autumn photos, or at least I think I do. As for the HD, hubs came up with another idea and next week after the project he is working on is done, he is going to try this idea. Love, Amy
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Fantastic, Amy. Keep clicking.
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GRIN! Someone compared me to David as in David to Goliath. Hmmm ….. Good point! LOL (((HUGS))) Amy
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What a touching story Mark, about brothers, love that last line when he looks up at his older brother…
Diana xo
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I had a great time talking to these two gentlemen, Diana, and I’m looking forward to seeing them play jazz on Oct. 31 in the intimate college theater. Thanks for your kind words! 🙂
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