Albert “Tootie” Heath

Younger brother of Percy and Jimmy Heath, Albert “Tootie” Heath is definitely a high hard bop-based drummer with an open brain toward more commercial varieties of jazz. After shifting to NY (1957), he debuted on record with John Coltrane. Heath was with J.J. Johnson’s group (1958-1960) as well as the Jazztet (1960-1961), caused the trios of Cedar Walton and Bobby Timmons in 1961, and documented many records like a sideman for Riverside throughout that period. He resided in European countries in 1965-1968 (operating regularly with Kenny Drew, Dexter Gordon, and support touring People in america), and, after time for the U.S., he performed frequently with Herbie Hancock’s sextet (1968-1969) and Yusef Lateef (1970-1974). After yet another year in European countries, he became a member of the Heath Brothers music group (1975-1978) and settled in LA, where Tootie Heath continuing freelancing, recording using the Riverside Reunion Music group.