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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSIMS, Zoot(b John Haley Sims, 29 Oct. '25, Inglewood CA; d 22 March '85) Reeds, mainly tenor sax. Played with Bobby Sherwood '42-3 (trumpeter, guitarist, bandleader b 30 May '14, Indianapolis IN, d 23 Jan. '80; records on Capitol incl. 'The Elk's Parade', hit 'Sherwood's Forest' '46), then Benny Goodman, others; served in US Army '44-6, recorded with Bill Harris group under Joe Bushkin's name on Commodore '46, became famous as one of the Four Brothers sax section in Woody Herman band '47-9. He freelanced, toured with Goodman, Stan Kenton, Gerry Mulligan; first teamed with Al Cohn '52, later often made two-tenor gigs; toured USSR with Goodman '62; sometimes rejoined Herman. He played with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins at Titans of the Tenor concert NYC '66: with Cohn, Stan Getz and a handful of others, he was one of the few white players of his generation who belonged in that company; influenced by Lester Young, developing his own beautiful tone and ideas, never failing to swing, he was also one of the most popular. In the late '70s he occasionally played soprano. His first own recordings were made in Europe '50, later on Prestige as First Recordings!, many with Kenny Clarke, bassist Pierre Michelot, Gerald Wiggins on piano. More tracks '50-4 on Prestige two-disc Zootcase, included first session with Cohn '52, also with Kai Winding, Percy Heath, Art Blakey, pianist George Wallington (b Giacinto Figlia, 27 Oct. '23, Palermo; d 15 Feb. '93, NYC; grew up in USA; a good composer ['Godchild', 'Lemon Drop']; albums included Jazz For The Carriage Trade '56 on Prestige; left music '57, came back mid-'80s with Virtuoso on Denon, The Symphony Of Jazz Piano on Interface). Sims/Bobby Brookmeyer Quintet tracks from '56 were released on five different labels incl. Biograph (One To Blow On), from '58 on UA; quintet Zoot! '56 on Riverside. He was multi-tracked on ABC-Paramount LPs, playing three horns '56, four altos '57 (later on Impulse in USA); Sims Quartet Down Home '60 later on Affinity. Sets with three saxes on UA '59 (Cohn, Phil Woods; Mose Allison, Paul Motian, bassist Knobby Totah), on Pumpkin '65 (Suitably Zoot with Cohn, Richie Kamuca, Dave Frishberg, Tommy Potter, Mel Lewis); on Sonet '74 made in Sweden with Horace Parlan. He recorded with an orchestra for Impulse in London '66 (arranged by Gary McFarland, leader Jack Parnell); more LPs on Argo, RCA, Pacific Jazz, Colpix, Famous Door, Choice; duos with guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli on Groove Merchant '77, Ahead '76. On Norman Granz's Pablo label '75-84 incl. quartet Soprano Sax and ten-piece Hawthorne Nights (arranged and conducted by Bill Holman), both '76; big-band Passion Flower/Plays Duke Ellington '80 (arranged and conducted by Benny Carter), duo with Joe Pass Blues For Two '82, eleven more quartet/quintet LPs included excellent Basie And Zoot, also If I'm Lucky and I Wish I Were Twins quartet sets with Jimmy Rowles. Last date was trio In A Sentimental Mood '84 on Sonet, made in Sweden with bassist Red Mitchell, guitarist Rune Gustafsson. From A To Z--And Beyond on Bluebird and Al And Zoot on MCA compile '56-7 tracks by the soul brothers: sheer delight. |