The B Flat Blues That Swung ALL OF JAZZ
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- #bass #jazz #walking #history #analysis #paulthompson
Celebrating the genius of the late, great bassist PERCY HEATH. His nearly 70-year career playing Jazz spanned hundreds of records that included Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Wes Montgomery, the Heath Brothers, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and many, many more.
I'll break down his ICONIC 2-chorus walking bass intro to Miles Davis' "Blue Haze" (1954) and the 6 reasons I love it so much. Join me in celebrating one of the great bassists of Jazz--and one we don't talk about enough!
Check out the original version here: • Blue Haze
Website: www.paulthompso...
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This is so refreshing after watching the latest chops-filled videos from the recent NAMM show. Percy was a bad-ass. Thank you Paul!
We are losing the ability to enjoy space in music. At least some of us. There is an exploding fetish with speed.
The truth. And then one day players will rediscover taste and think they invented it.
@@pectenmaximus231 100%! And smugness will rue the day!! Lol
@@haysfordays The electric fretless boys are always talking about the "Mwah" sound. However, they never let it ring into the next note the way Percy and all those great players of that time did.
This channel is making my left-hand bass lines on the piano much better. 🎹🎶🤟
same!!!
As a 81 year old failed bass player, I always admired Percy Heath. I only was able to see him once, during a Heath Brothers tour. I did read an article about him once. Thanks for posting your quality essay!!
Oh man! You've got additional points for the Miles-impression, fabulous! Percy was a reall cat, a must known for every bass player. Great content as always!
Paul! Haha my Percy video for "Walkin'" is going public this afternoon. How fortuitous and funny
I watched it after this
Thank you! @@dtfoel1230
Thank You, Sir for constantly expanding my knowledge on thing I was sure I knew almost everything about and for doing this in extremely elegant style. This is next video about a chap I either did not knew or knew very little about. You have no idea how much cats I discovered because you put quality videos out there, I respect your effort especially in times where short form seems to take almost every part of the web. Hats off!
Your passion always opens me up to knew experiences I'd otherwise never of understood. I appreciate that.
Percy Heath is my favourite double-bass player. Thank you so much for this amazing video!!
I so appreciate your enthusiasm for the bass and your respect for the musicians. You inspire me!
So glad you paid tribute to Percy. I recently transcribed “Solar” and his line is a brilliant composition in itself.
Thanks for posting. As a failed bass player myself, Percy Heath was my favorite. I ended up playing in wedding bands though I did audition with a small combo for Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour back in 1960.
Thank you Paul. You hit the nail on the head with everything, with me especially appreciating your demonstration of the supportive function of the bass, the beauty of simplicity and focus on the instrument’s sweetest range.
I'm always fascinated and appreciative of the fact that these Titans, came up together. From young Lions to Legends. I love the "Four" album and "Blue Haze" is out there super cool, what a Groove Man. I saw him several times here in New York with MJQ. That was always Special. Later he and his equally Great Bros "The Heath Brothers " played at tge Legendary Grants Tomb, Jazzmobile. Tge Crowd was always Huge, appreciative and the love was reciprocated. That was a Terrific Breakdown on his Blue Haze Masterpiece. He was Playing The Bass.
As a result of this upload, I’m halfway through a 43 minute PH nterview. Thank you for the introduction to this thoroughly charming man. 👍👍👍
i was JUST reading the part in miles autobiography where he talked about then turning the lights off in the studio last night
Saw the MJQ in NY with Tootie. They came out into the crowd to say hello to their friends before playing, and Percy had no guests so he sat at our table and just chatted with us. And he came back between sets. I have a ton of stories from that night, but bottom line was you couldn’t imagine a nicer guy.
Thanks for the History and the Lessons
This got me thinking about Willie Dixon's bassline in Going Down Slow. So much space. Everyone gets to stretch their legs.
Love your channel: the knowledge, enthusiasm, and presentation! As a novice rock/pop bassist, I've found the same thing you explain: slow tempi can be as hard as fast ones because there's nowhere to hide. I love playing ballads for that reason. Every little nuance is right up front for all to hear, and you better bring your A game. There's no fudging stuff or hiding behind a wall of loud, fast rock. It makes me really focus on technique fundamentals and feel.
Love Percy Heath, thank you!
Percy Heath - a genius of groove and subtly
Awesome video ❤! I've been playing both electric and upright bass for 52 (fifty-two) years and am especially impressed by your brilliant showcasing of Percy Heath😊 Thank you for sharing this, Sir!
Percy was a prime influence for me. Elegance personified.
Never spotted the engravings on your bass. They look beautiful man.
Excellent presentation, thank you !
Bill P.
Your time is SO solid! I can feel you subdividing the beat, are you actually doing that in your head? Thanks for sharing!
Played with his brother and played the song he dedicated to him: "Big P".
Awesome work again, P.
One of my favorite episodes so far on this channel. Nice one @pdbass!
Absolutely bad ass! Such a great groove and you can hear it “playing the changes”. Loved watching and listening to you play that too!
I'm glad you played that that's been my staple for years
One of my favorite bass players he was at Leftbank alot
Thanks! Another exemplary video, I appreciate your clarity and the way you honor all of the musicians you share with us! I am enjoying the bass journey.
Many thanks, Rod!! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
YES! Got to see Percy many times when I lived in So. Ca. in the 70s with the Heath Bros and MJQ!
When I started playing jazz, I spent a lot of time transcribing. I found Percy Heath among the easist to transcribe becuase of his sound and simplicity.. I owe much to Big "P!"
You're the best. I love your lessons. Thank you.
Superb video, pd. You've done it again.
This is fantastic. Thank you, Sir!
w/e i think of percy heath, i wish there were a recording of percy, jimmy and tootie, playing with hank, thad and elvin.
Wow the Heath Brothers with the Jones Boys, quite a lineup!!!
Great video as always. Again, thank you, and stay well!
Great video! Percy Heath has always been one of my favorite bass players. :)
I got meet Mr. Heath when I was in college. The Heath Brothers played a concert at my school and did a clinic earlier in the day. I told Mr. Heath that I played electric and he let me play his bass to try show me how to get a fat tone on acoustic. I failed miserably, but he was very kind to me.
But you tried and we can always try again . Percy was a gentleman
Big thanks Paul
superb! thanks
One song with a mean walking bass line that comes to mind is North by Northeast on Paul Desmond's album Summertime. It's Ron Carter playing the bass and it's one of the smoothest walking bass lines I know.
A great one! Thanks!!
i'm here for the miles davis impression
😂❤
Very good work of yours. Thank you.
No doubt about it.
Such a great player
terrific analysis, thx!
I got a chance to play bass with his brother Jimmy in college. Also got to attend a masterclass with brother Tootie. Two awesome, swinging cats.
Thank you!
love this no big ego just be a serve for the Music
Met Mr. Heath some time ago. Great player, greater man!
For me this timing is a J Dilla thing in Jazz. Great episode
Terrific!
Thank you!
Damn !!!
What a lesson tks
Saw The Brothers w/Tony Purrone and Stanley Cowell. Cowell played a mean kalimba at Jonathan Swifts in Cambridge MA. Percy, Tootie, and Jimmy were sublime.
A great one.
Great!
What kind of Upright is that? I love the woodwork on the edges❣️
Thank you, dude. Hey! Do you know what kind of equipment Michael Henderson used to get the richest electric bass sound EVER on Miles' album, "Jack Johnson?" Maybe the engineer had an impact, but man what a sound!
Great video
Thank you 🙏🏾
The Cannonball and Bill Evans album Know What I Mean is when I noticed Percy. Waltz for Debby and Who Cares definitely worth checking out
Man your bass tone is delicious. What kind of bass do you play? I know it's mostly in the fingers, but curious the kind. Beautiful carving too. Thanks for the Heath insights.
Just checking out Tommy Potter's Hard Funk from 1959. He also played with Bird on A Night In Tunisia, with Miles, Arvil Garrison, Lucky Thompson, as well as Max Roach .Blessings. 1956.
My favorite Heath Brothers cut is feeling dealing.
Pretty sweet 😎🎶
Nice !!!!
Baptist Beat... fabulous. First time I've heard that term... and I've been playing 60 years. Cool, man. Guess I've spent my time in church. Hebrew church. Dig it.
Nice walking Iif I may say!❤
SWEET!!
Percy also recorded hours of jazz trio music with George Harrison and Connie Kay. The recordings are said to be "lost" according to the Harrison estate.
Great video! And then you mention, Dizzy Gillespie. LOL. Let me tell you a quick little story.
So I was a union Audio Engineer NBC-TV News in Washington DC for 20 years. And I'm leaving for lunch one day. And I'm going out the front entrance. And here's this guy. He's trying to get past the guard. The guard won't let him in. Says he doesn't know who he is? And he's telling them he was asked to be here for an interview. The guard says he doesn't know anything about it? And you're not coming in. Until we can contact those people.
And as I'm coming out this is going on. And it suddenly occurs to me who this person is! I just looked at him and said out loud Dizzy! And he looks up at me and says yeah? I looked at the guard. I said you don't know who this guy is. This is Dizzy Gillespie? And the guard tells me he's not letting them in until he can contact that person somewhere in the building he doesn't know where?
I looked dizzy and I apologize to him. Man I'm really sorry about this. But I'm going to lunch. You'll get in soon. I'm confident.
I've also worked with, Eartha Kitt. At a jazz nightclub in Washington DC. Where I both made recordings. And occasionally substituted for the PA person. She was funny. She was one-of-a-kind. She was real Americana.
I've been very fortunate. To work alongside. Some of our country's great historical figures and celebrities. I mean I never imagined myself. Working in or ever meeting any POTUS. I was all about the rock 'n' roll. But I was transferred into TV News On-air Operations. And I find myself sitting 10 feet away from Ronnie Reagan or George Herbert Walker Bush. Going back 40 years now. How did I end up there? I was nothing more than a bona fide high school dropout with a GED. And I'm working in the White House?
I'm really quite disgusted. By what's going on in my country the USA today. We have white Caucasian supremacist fascist Nazi pricks. Telling us by taking away Americans rights. This will make America better for them! Because it certainly does make America better for one half the population called Women. Whose rights they have ripped away. Sent them back into the 1950s again. Keep women in their place! Get them out of the workplace. Those jobs are for men! Not for stupid women.
Misogyny is the key today. Then have to be tough. And tell their women how it's going to be! White full-blooded Aryan men must take over! They are the only ones that can run the USA Successfully! Right into the ground! Because they have that right!
The United States now must be run by, Godfather style, Mafioso style, Strong Arm, Thug Nation! Because boys like being Tough! And they like to Fight, Fight, Fight! It's all they know how to do because they are boys! And they have to do it! They have to shoot their guns regularly! They have the 2nd Amendment that gives them that right! Not just to own them but to shoot them! And shoot the Americans you don't like! Get rid of them! Get them out of here! They are all liberal Democrats! And they have no right to live in the USA!
This is the faction we are dealing with people. They are not going to go away. We cannot ignore their repeated attacks and denial of rights upon us all. To make America better. Like it was during slavery. When all the white plantation owners had the best time of their lives in the USA! And they want to repeat that acclamation Mark they are Americans! They have the right to! And you can't stop them! Try to stop them! You will be sorry if you do!
These extremist crazy Republicunt's. Believe if they make life miserable enough for Americans they don't like. We will just leave. They just want us to, leave and go to another country and never come back again. Because this is their country. Not our country. Because they cannot tolerate. Living next door to Liberal Democrats. They find that completely Intolerable. It flies in the face of their Jesus freaking. And they cannot have that!
Of course they found it, Intolerable, also. 60 or so years ago. Because no way could they live next door to a Black Family. That would have been Intolerable! And it was! Until they were forced to. Live next door to black families. Ugh! Obviously they had become wealthier and moved out to a better neighborhood. A wealthier neighborhood. A gated neighborhood that allowed no Blacks. Because that's the way it must be.
So nothing is changed in the USA since the 1950s. Republicans refused to change and be Woke. They would rather die. Than, except being, Americans who are woke! They would rather die! As that would be the worst thing in the world to have to be subjected to! Because Americans have the right to be extreme Bigots! They have that right! But they hate our Federal Constitution! So they are talking about the rights from another Constitution. Not ours.
Republicans want to turn everything into, Crazy Ville. It's not good unless it's Extremely Neurotic, Toxic and sick in the head. With Jesus. As they have been trying to cram there Jesus down our throats for over 50 years now. And it took extremely corrupt, Trump appointed, fake Supreme Court justices. To inform women. That their mentors and their college professors like Antonin Scalia. Did not know what they were doing! As they are better! And women Don't have Any Rights. In our Constitution. No place in there does it mention women. Only men. Because our Founding fathers. Also knew that women are terribly inferior. Aunt did not want them voting back then either. So we should get back to basics. That means only white men are allowed to vote. Because we run the country. Not off-color people or women. How ridiculous! Who do these Americans think they are? To, tell us American Boys how to live!? Nobody in the Whole World, the right to tell American boys how they have to live! No One Ever! Laws are not for Boys in the USA! Donnie already sealed that deal. So just get over it!
They want to destroy Americans who refused to Assimilate. Into the Collective.
RemyRAD
Something that’s been interesting to me about the first couple bars…it’s slight but between the 3rd/4th bars he creeps the tempo up a hair. I wonder if Miles wanted to speed it up a little, or what…
The double stops going to the four chord... man.
First, beautiful carving on the top of the that bass! Second, I notice your head bobbing in what looks like a straight eight-note rhythm subdivision of the quarter-note bass line. Are you thinking eighths in your head when you are playing a slower tempo walk? I know that if I only think of the tempo of the quarter my walking is not going to be even. But I would expect maybe someone would be subdividing into triplets rather than straight eighths in their head for a jazz bass line. Just curious what I'm seeing or hearing in this demo. Thanks. I'm a longtime fan of the Heath Brothers.
you dropped the mic on this one Paul or as we say you put your foot in it
Yessir
I knew all three Heath Brothers and played with Jimmy and Tootie but regretfully not with Percy whom I love.
Chasing the root. ;)
I’m glad that I am reading someone applauding not doing that.
It can cramp your flow.
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Do you have a pdf if this transcription?
Email me 😉
green acres at the beginning
I always thought Percy was a bad-man!!
Out on gigs, I’m channeling Percy way more that I am …say …Scott LaFaro or NHØP. Not that I don’t love those guys.
Miles davis hired 5 guys to jump my grandfather and knock his teeth out. My grandfather was chet baker. What an insecure guy. My grandfather was the first trumpet player who learned how to play with dentures, then he was “mysteriously” found after “falling” out of a window.
Not a bass player. So if I watch one of your videos it would really help me relate if you could give 30 - 45 seconds with everybody playing.
Classically trained guitarist here!
I have been subscribed to your channel for some time.
And _everything_ you show us applies, not only to bass, but any instrument one plays.
I make the "changes" better than I did before and keep getting better.
I bought a bass a little over a year ago to delve into the concepts, grooves I like.
And to follow along to your videos.
Just did this one tonight. Felt _real good_ ! 😄
Thank you, man! 👍
Thank you for bringing our attention to this legend - Percy Heath🥰
I used to see him all the time when I lived in Montauk He was an avid fisherman just loved it.A real gentleman
Perfect intonation and the deepest groove. I love Percy Heath.
Fantastic video! It was well over ten years ago I paid someone £15 for a random box of records. Most of it was trash but it contained a Japanese 70's pressing of Blue Haze. Definitely one of the best records in my collection, that I still own to this day.
Grown folks tempo… love that. I couldn’t help but hear the similarity in the feel of bass line with the song Hazel’s Hips by Oscar Brown Jr. Can you look at that song sometime?
We appreciate any geekness that highlights what's important; thank you for demonstrating what's important for all Bassists 👏👏👏
Agreed: Slowing down is much more difficult
because 1) Note choice 2) timing and phrasing 3) and Space / those are all where the magic happens
Can you do a video on Feliciano Arango? His bass playing totally changed modern Cuban music.
Absolutely agree with the whole video. Problem is when you said Percy Heath is often overlooked and now not well known. Argh. Really? Has it really gotten that bad? How can any jazz fan overlook Heath? I do like many players after 1970 but we cannot forget those who came before or who played in a clear non flashy but thoughtful style. You explained it well. They are not only important historically but for their quality, a quality that still holds up against anything. Thanks. Mike