Heath's Big Band Turn in 1985
A late-career Heath steps back from the front line and lets a large ensemble carry his ideas forward.
New Picture arrives in 1985, well into Jimmy Heath's long career, and it stands apart from the small-group records that defined much of his output. Here he writes and plays for a larger ensemble, and the difference shows right away in the arrangements, which give the horns room to layer and argue with one another rather than simply trading solos over a rhythm section.
Heath's tenor saxophone is still the center of gravity, but he is less interested in showing off than in shaping the whole sound. The rhythm section does its job with confidence. Tommy Flanagan's piano is clean and economical, and Rufus Reid's bass holds everything steady, so the brass and reeds can stretch out without the music drifting. The horn voicings are the real pleasure here, with French horn and trombone adding a warmer, rounder color than a standard jazz front line would offer.
If you are new to Heath, this is not the place to start. Begin with Picture of Heath (1959) or his earlier Riverside sessions to hear the small-group style he is best known for. New Picture is for listeners who already know his playing and want to hear how he handled the bigger canvas. It is a solid, well-crafted record rather than a landmark, and it shows an older musician still willing to try something different.
Who's playing
Rufus Reiddouble bass
Tommy Flanaganpiano
Tony Purroneguitar
Jimmy Heathtenor saxophone
Benny Powelltrombone
Al Fosterdrums
John ClarkFrench horn
Howard Johnsontuba
Robert RoutchFrench horn
Where next?
More by Jimmy Heath
All 12 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
