I've always thought of Percy Heath as a really good bassist, but Oscar Pettiford as an immortal one. I've been listening to Miles Davis's Take Off, a compilation of his Blue Notes, on shuffle. Percy's on some, OP's on some. To me, the tracks with Percy are much better. They have more swing and flow with more direction to the basslines, and a really gorgeous sound. The difference is apparent every time. Anyone else feel like this? Sort of a silly exercise, I know, but this is the season for lists, etc.
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Ray Brown mentioned in an interview that OP's bass was set up with a really low string height to play the solos he did. OP called Ray Brown's bass a "frump" because it was set up to play time. I think the difference when it comes down to Heath Vs OP when it comes to time playing is that OP really didn't care much about being the best walker around.
I consider Percy Heath one of the best bassists. Time, tone, and taste.
Apples and oranges he and OP. Oscar was great too. We don't all listen for the same things.
Apples and oranges he and OP. Oscar was great too. We don't all listen for the same things.
As a section bassist, they're each great.
As a general musician on the bass, OP had a lot more going. He was a highly fluent soloist who bridged Blanton and LaFaro, he was an influential bandleader, he wrote tunes people still play, he doubled cello. (Three out of four ain't bad, right?)
But Percy Heath was a fine, fine player, reputedly a nice person and master fish-catcher.
As a general musician on the bass, OP had a lot more going. He was a highly fluent soloist who bridged Blanton and LaFaro, he was an influential bandleader, he wrote tunes people still play, he doubled cello. (Three out of four ain't bad, right?)
But Percy Heath was a fine, fine player, reputedly a nice person and master fish-catcher.
Both are among the all time greats. Percy was a consummate rhythm section bass player, like Bob Cranshaw after him he'd solo if you really wanted him to but that's not what he loved about being a bass player and not what made him great. His freelance work alone (especially with Kenny Clarke) would have made him an all-timer, let alone the fact he was part of one of the most famous ensembles in jazz history. OP was also a great accompanist, but like Sam mentioned he was also a bandleader, composer and I think the first bass player to play cello. He was also for my money the greatest bass soloist in jazz history, and all those things together put him in my top 5 all time. And he only made it to 37! But either guy is among the giants of the walking bass part
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On a bird watching trip to Montauk last winter I stumbled across a plaque on a boulder dedicated to Percy. He apparently was a fixture in the fishing community, and, dig this, a Tuskegee Airman. Percy Heath, WWII fighter ace!
Thinking along these lines, it is interesting to hear the differences in approach, feel and technique of players in similar musical settings. The 1960 vinyl 33 The Avant-Garde w/ John Coltrane & Don Cherry and Eddie Blackwell is a great example. There are five cuts on the album, with two using Charlie Haden, and three using Percy Heath.
I have my own feelings as to who sounds better in the recordings, but I'll let you find for yourself the things you are listening for.
BTW The liner notes by A.B. Spellman are a great source of history and knowledge..
Thanks for getting me to listen to this wonderful recording. I own the LP, but haven't played it in many years. Of course CH wins this one; they're speaking a language he invented. Percy does well, though, better than I imagine Haden would do playing with the MJQ, though, great musician that he was, he might have actually pushed them in some exciting ways. I particularly enjoyed Ed Blackwell. What a great and underappreciated player.
Great album, and I'm pretty certain we agree on who sounds better in that group. If I were to think avant-garde, only one of those bassists would come to my mind.
I much prefer to listen to Percy Heath in this context:
Both are great, but I think Oscar's walking was more clipped and retained the feel of an earlier time. Percy has more of the sustain that lead to what we think of as traditional walking now.
I've been enjoying this a lot the last couple of days. Nothing too fancy, just perfect tone, time and intonation, and sooooooo funky
Oh man, this is giving me memories of seeing the Heath Bros. at the Vanguard years and years back. Percy was an utter, supreme groove a of a musician... I remember such pure, folk/roots music singing from his cello-bass, and a big ol' smile on his face as he played. But yeah, both Percy and OP are giants in their own right and equally influential (to me at least, IMO, IMHO, IME, YMMV, et al).
I remember seeing the Heath Brothers at the Jazzmobile in Harlem on a beautiful summer day. Couldn't be topped.