Jimmy and Tootie Heath dedicate “No End” to Percy

By I May. 2, 2005

The mood was solemn in the Jazz Tent at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on April 28, as word got around that bassist, Percy Heath, 81, had died earlier that day at home in New York. But there’s nowhere better to celebrate the life of a jazz musician than New Orleans, where music and funerals go hand in hand.

With Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums and his brother, Jimmy on tenor and soprano sax, the band opened their late afternoon set appropriately with Jimmy Heath’s “A Sound For Sore Ears.” After a few tunes, Jimmy acknowledged the passing of his brother and bandmate. “We’re going to dedicate this one to Percy,” said Jimmy, as he introduced Kenny Dorham’s “No End,” which the Heaths recorded on their 1981 album, “Brotherly Love.” “This one is entitled ‘No End’ and there’s no end to the beauty.” The set closed out the day’s festivities, and by 7pm, a large, cheering crowd had filled the tent to support the legendary brothers as they played through their loss.

The New Orleans-based trio, “Drums and Tuba,” who recently relocated from New York City, also drew a large crowd to check out their dark, experimental sound. With a tuba on his lap and a trumpet by his side, Brian Wolff operated a mixer with pedals and effects that twisted around Neal McKeeby’s guitar melody and traded time with low brass blasts.

Earlier this week at Mid-City Lanes Rock ‘N Bowl, the two-day-long “Ponderosa Stomp” highlighted the important compositions of songwriters like James “Blood” Ulmer, Link Wray and Johnny Farina of Santo and Johnny. On the Tuesday and Wednesday between Jazz Fest weekends, the two 8-hour shows gave nods to the innovations of more than 60 local jazz, funk, soul and r&b players. The show, now in its fourth year, is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about Jazz Fest events outside the Fairgrounds.