PA BOOKS on PCN

"I Walked With Giants" with Jimmy Heath


Listen Later

Composer of more than 100 jazz pieces, three-time Grammy nominee, and performer on more than 125 albums, saxophonist Jimmy Heath has earned a place of honor in the history of jazz. Over his long career, Heath knew many jazz giants, such as Charlie Parker, and played with other innovators, including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and especially Dizzy Gillespie. Along the way, Heath won both their respect and their friendship. In his autobiography, the legendary Heath creates a "dialogue" with musicians and family members. As in jazz, where improvisation by one performer prompts another to riff on the same theme, I Walked with Giants juxtaposes Heath's account of his life and career with recollections from jazz giants about life on the road and making music on the world's stages. His memories of playing with his equally legendary brothers, Percy and Albert (aka "Tootie"), dovetail with their recollections.


Heath reminisces about a South Philadelphia home filled with music and a close-knit family that hosted musicians performing in the city's then thriving jazz scene. Milt Jackson recalls, "I went to their house for dinner. . . . Jimmy's father put Charlie Parker records on and told everybody that we had to be quiet till dinner because he had Bird on. . . . When I [went] to Philly, I'd always go to their house."

Jimmy Heath, an NEA Jazz Master, is widely recognized as one of the greats in jazz. A saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator, Heath grew up in Philadelphia with his renowned brothers, Percy, the longtime bassist with the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Albert ("Tootie"), a highly respected drummer. The three formed the Heath Brothers Band in the '70s. Jimmy Heath directed the Jazz Studies master's degree program in performance at Queens College (CUNY).

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

PA BOOKS on PCNBy PCN - Pennsylvania Cable Network

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

65 ratings


More shows like PA BOOKS on PCN

View all
Listening to America by Listening to America

Listening to America

1,126 Listeners

The Bowery Boys: New York City History by Tom Meyers, Greg Young

The Bowery Boys: New York City History

3,701 Listeners

Lectures in History by C-SPAN

Lectures in History

728 Listeners

Ben Franklin's World by Liz Covart

Ben Franklin's World

1,557 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

86,615 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,562 Listeners

History Unplugged Podcast by History Unplugged

History Unplugged Podcast

3,992 Listeners

History That Doesn't Suck by Prof. Greg Jackson

History That Doesn't Suck

5,731 Listeners

The Daily Show: Ears Edition by iHeartPodcasts and Paramount Podcasts

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

14,233 Listeners

American Revolution Podcast by Michael Troy

American Revolution Podcast

968 Listeners

Hacks On Tap by Hacks On Tap

Hacks On Tap

8,019 Listeners

GOOD OL' GRATEFUL DEADCAST by Grateful Dead

GOOD OL' GRATEFUL DEADCAST

2,149 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,174 Listeners

Booknotes+ by C-SPAN

Booknotes+

192 Listeners

For the Ages: A History Podcast by The New York Historical

For the Ages: A History Podcast

374 Listeners