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Celebrate The Centennial Of Saxophonist Jimmy Heath On The Jazz Spotlight

Jimmy Heath
Shaping Modern Jazz Across Seven Decades!

Jimmy Heath was a master saxophonist, composer, and arranger, who was known as “Little Bird” for his early devotion to Charlie Parker’s bebop style before he forged his own distinctive voice on tenor saxophone. He shared a deep musical bond with his brothers, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath. He also helped bring John Coltrane into the spotlight, hiring the young saxophonist for his Philadelphia band. From performing with Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis to composing and arranging brilliant jazz works, Heath built a legacy that earned him the title of NEA Jazz Master.

Thursday, October 22 from 12 to 1 pm & 9 to 10 pm
Framed by towering shelves tightly packed with CDs, a warmly smiling red-haired Blaise Lantana in seafoam green stands side-by-side with a composed, stylishly layered esperanza spalding.

In her final interview before her retirement, KJZZ jazz host Blaise Lantana spoke with esperanza spalding who was in town for concerts at the MIM Music Theater.