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T O O T I E ' S T E M P O

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Albert Heath is the youngest of three powerful jazz brothers from Philadelphia. While still a teenager he was backing

up visiting New York artists like Lester Young and Thelonious Monk. After moving to New York, he was with J.J. Johnson,

the Jazztet, and the Bobby Timmons trio, and for while made so many dates for Orrin Keepnews it seemed like he was

house drummer for Riverside records.

In the mid-sixties Tootie began the first of many extended sojourns in Europe: when living in Copenhagen was the first-call drummer for any serious visiting Americans like Dexter Gordon and Jackie McLean. He was a crucial member of one

of Herbie Hancocks first touring bands (the Hancock album The Prisoner is canonical) before joining one of Yusef

Lateefs most important groups. Since moving to California in the early 70s he has played less in NYC than most of us

wish, although he keeps turning up with The Heath Brothers once or twice a year. An endlessly open musician, Tootie

sounds comfortable on records with Ben Webster, Anthony Braxton, and Roscoe Mitchell; his own first album Kawaida

is the only studio meeting between Don Cherry and Herbie Hancock. Recently he was the founder of The Whole DrumTruth, a provocative series of concerts showcasing percussionists in solos and ensembles.

Diverse resume aside, Albert Heath remains at his core a classic bebop drummer. Today he is one of the few left who

learned bop from the streets, not the schools. It is a wonderful honor and responsibility for Ben and me to share the

stage with him.

NOTES BYETHAN IVERSON

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1 THE CHARLESTON2 CHARADE3 DANUBE INCIDENT4 STOMPIN AT THE SAVOY5VIOLETS FOR YOUR FURS 6 THE INTIMACY OF THE BLUES

7HOW INSENSITIVE8 FIRE WALTZ9 CUTE

10 IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO11 TOOTIES TEMPO

ALBERT TOOTIE HEAT H: DRUMS > ETHAN IVERSON: P IANO > BEN STREET: BASS

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The Charleston Why is James P. Johnsons biggest hit hardly ever played by modern jazz musicians? It seems just right for this trio.

Charade The movie is lightweight, but everyone loves Mancinis tune. This was suggested by Steve Kellam during our engagement at the Village Vanguard.

Danube Incident was Bens idea. Portisheads big hit Sour Times was based on a sample from this Lalo Schfrin cue for an old episode ofMission: Impossible.Tooties perfect performance reminds us that he has lived in Los Angeles for over 40 years.

Stompin At the Savoyis Edgar Sampsons most famous tune but he has a whole list of wonderful pieces that need more commonplace circulation. Its importantfor this band to play repertoire by Afro-American pop composers. After Ben delivers a terrific solo, I begin my own improvisation with a few bars of Charlie Christian.

Violets for Your Furs Im pretty confident Red Garland would have been the one to suggest this Matt Dennis torch song to John Coltrane for Coltranes first recordas a leader. That same day, May 31 1957, the drummer on that date, Tootie Heath, celebrated his 22nd birthday.

The Intimacy of the Blues Billy Strayhorn made a masterpiece from just a few indelible notes. Ben always says that really playing the blues is one of the hardestthings to do, but his relaxed walking line here makes it look easy.

How Insensitive The morbid, Chopinish logic of Jobims tune remains irresistible. Tootie plays this one with just a low tom and a mallet.

Fire WaltzTootie played a lot with one of my major inspirations, Mal Waldron. Fire Waltz is familiar from the classic Eric Dolphy/Booker Little record, but Waldronsdeep catalog should be mined more frequently by jazz students looking for off-center inspiration.

CuteThe title explains itself, just a nice little duo exercise in swing.

It Should Have Happened a Long Time Ago Paul Motian rarely left the Vanguard when he was working there, but one time when we were down the blockat Smalls he came over and stood right next to the drums. After a tune, Tootie looked up and said, unsmilingly, Is that Paul Motian hiding inside that old man? The

next day Paul called me and asked about the tune we played, Dr. Jackle. Tootie played it so good, I thought he must have written it, Paul said. He seemed relieved

that the tune was by Jackie McLean. Paul probably didnt want his status challenged as the greatest drummer-composer from his peer group. Since Motians death, it

seems like several of his pieces are becoming standard repertoire.Tooties Tempo When we played Shiny Stockings at the Vanguard, Tootie would say to the audience, Thats Shiny Stockings With a Thong, and then quoteThe Thong Song. This isnt the only track we tried in the studio where Tooties sultry lilt outclassed us (or me, at least; Ben usually sounded pretty good) to the point

that general release would provoke embarrassment. We decided to salvage this one by simply making it a drum solo. Its probably the best music on this album.

Recorded at the Clubhouse in upstate New York in December 2012 by Daniel James Goodwin / Mixed by Pete Rende and Ben Street / Mastered by Kevin Blackler / Photography by John Rogers / Graphic design by Christopher Drukker

"Tootie For President" button by Melissa Small for The Whole Drum Truth

Special thanks to Billy Hart, Lorraine Gordon, Jed Eisenman, Jimmy Heath, Spike Wilner, Paul Antonell