Heath's Quiet Soul Session
A warm, spirited 1973 date where Jimmy Heath leads a strong band through soulful, unhurried playing.
Love and Understanding was recorded in 1973 and released on the Muse label, with Jimmy Heath leading a band that included Stanley Cowell on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and Billy Higgins on drums. The session brought together players who were comfortable in both hard bop and the looser, groove-minded idiom that much of jazz was moving toward in the early seventies, and the record reflects that easy mix.
The music is warm and unhurried rather than showy. Heath plays with a full, round tone, and the rhythm section keeps things grounded without pushing for fireworks. Fuller's trombone adds a mellow, slightly rough texture that suits the material well. This is not a record built around dazzling solos; it is about the feel of the group and how well everyone listens to one another.
DownBeat gave the album four stars, with Herb Nolan writing that everyone involved was excellent, and that the players were among the best of their day. For a listener new to Heath, this is a pleasant and accessible entry point. It is not his most ambitious work, but it is a solid, enjoyable record that shows him at ease with a strong group.
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More by Jimmy Heath
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The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
