Jimmy Heath

Few people mean more to Temple University’s music program than Terell Stafford, director of jazz studies and chair of instrumental studies. And few people meant more to Stafford than Jimmy Heath, the saxophone-playing middle brother in what could very reasonably be called Philadelphia jazz’s first family.

Editor's Note: Sam Reed passed away on July 7th, 2021 at age 85. Few Philadelphia musicians have had careers as rich and varied as saxophonist and…

I believe the year was 1983 when I was asked if I’d like to emcee a concert at the Academy of Music, headlined by Dave Brubeck and his sons and the Modern…

August 10, 2020. When legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath passed away on January 19th, Philadelphia lost one of our upper-echelon of jazz—a high priest, if…

The lauded saxophonist passed away in January at the age of 93 — but not before recording a tender, accomplished collection alongside several of his fellow luminaries.

During a recent interview, saxophone great Larry Mckenna was right on target when he shared that often in other cities, when people found out he was from…

When I was a kid growing up in South Philly, there was an older fellow down the block who was trying to play an alto saxophone. He wasn't doing well at…

The composer and bandleader made his first recordings in the late 1940s. In the decades since, Heath has played with and written for everyone from Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie to Miles Davis and Milt Jackson.

This Sunday I'll present part 2 of our tribute to the great jazz pianists. We'll hear well-known classics like "Dat Dere", "Sister Sadie", "Round…

Jill Pasternak and Maureen Malloy bring you a conversation with legendary jazz instrumentalist, band leader, and arranger Jimmy Heath. Jimmy and his…