I Walked With Giants

Composer of more than 100 jazz pieces, three-time Grammy nominee, and performer on more than 125 albums, saxophonist Jimmy Heath has earned a place of honor in the history of jazz. Over his long career, Heath knew many jazz giants, such as Charlie Parker, and played with other innovators, including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and especially Dizzy Gillespie. Along the way, Heath won both their respect and their friendship. In this extraordinary autobiography, the legendary Heath creates a dialogue with musicians and family members. As in jazz, where improvisation by one performer prompts another to riff on the same theme, I Walked with Giants juxtaposes Heaths account of his life and career with recollections from jazz giants about life on the road and making music on the worlds stages. His memories of playing with his equally legendary brothers, Percy and Albert (aka Tootie), dovetail with their recollections. Heath reminisces about a South Philadelphia home filled with music and a close-knit family that hosted musicians performing in the citys then thriving jazz scene. Milt Jackson recalls, I went to their house for dinner. . . . Jimmys father put Charlie Parker records on and told everybody that we had to be quiet till dinner because he had Bird on. . . . When I [went] to Philly, Id always go to their house. Today Heath performs, composes, and works as a music educator and arranger. By turns funny, poignant, and extremely candid, Heaths story captures the rhythms of a life in jazz.