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Billy Higgins
Billy Higgins was reportedly the most recorded jazz drummer in history, and certainly one of the most beloved. Higgins was one of the most musically sensitive jazz players around, with a light but active swing. His style did not draw attention to itself and could not be described by mannerisms; his musicianship simply raised the standard of every band he played in. Although he did release few records under his own name, Higgins was in great demand as a sideman, providing sensitive accompaniment in a variety of settings.
Higgins was born in Los Angeles, on Oct. 11, 1936 and began playing drums at the age of 12. Early in his career he played with R&B bands including those of Amos Milburn and Bo Diddley. Other early affiliations included singers Brook Benton, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
He was soon involved in jazz, playing with other local musicians, including Dexter Gordon, Don Cherry, James Clay, and Walter Benton. In 1957 he was in the quartet led by Red Mitchell which also included pianist Lorraine Geller and tenor saxophonist James Clay. This band recorded for Lester Koenig's Contemporary Records label, on what was Higgins' first record date. But he soon left to join Ornette Coleman's new band, with whom he worked steadily in 1958 and 1959. In New York in 1959 he appeared with Coleman at the controversial Five Spot concerts, in a band which also included Don Cherry and Charlie Haden. Later that year he joined Thelonious Monk and in 1960 was with John Coltrane. By then he had become one of the most in-demand freelance drummers on the scene, particularly on many Blue Note sessions.
Throughout the ‘60s Higgins was in demand for tours, club dates and a staggering number of recording sessions. Among the artists with whom he played were Sonny Rollins, Steve Lacy, Donald Byrd, Gordon, Lee Morgan, Herbie Hancock and Hank Mobley.
His drumming was an important addition to many recordings, such as Andrew Hill's “Point of Departure,” Herbie Hancock's “Takin' Off,” and Lee Morgan's “The Sidewinder,” the last two being especially popular jazz albums. He would intermittently work with Coleman again in the 1960s and 1970s as well. Outside of Coleman, a frequent musical collaborator was Cedar Walton, an association that began in 1966 and continued into the 1990s, often in the Walton's Eastern Rebellion bands. In the 80s his musical companions included Coleman, Pat Metheny and Slide Hampton.
Unfortunately in the 1990s his career was halted by kidney disease, leading to a subsequent kidney transplant. After resuming playing, he remained much in demand for record dates. During 1999-2001, he worked frequently with Charles Lloyd when not leading his own bands, recording some of his most inventive drumming while playing against Lloyd's saxophone. Higgins was on the faculty of the jazz studies program at the University of California at Los Angeles, and taught at World Stage, a Monday-night program for budding musicians at Leimert Park in Los Angeles.
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Ornette Coleman: Free Jazz to Ornette! Revisited
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Continue ReadingOrnette Coleman: Free Jazz To Ornette! Revisited
by John Eyles
For ezz-thetics' revisited series' fourth Ornette Coleman album, the label has ventured back further than any of its previous Coleman albums, to New York City in December 1960 and January 1961. Recorded at A&R Studios on Wednesday December 21st 1960 from 8pm to 12.30am, the Free Jazz session produced two pieces, the thirty-seven minute “Free Jazz" itself, which was issued in September 1961 on an Atlantic album entitled Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation By The Ornette Coleman Double Quartet, and ...
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If one wanted to capture a 'who's who' snapshot of the jazz icons of the mid-'70s, into the '80s and beyond, one of the best ways to start was to see if they had added their name to the list of artists who recorded and/or released a 'Live at Sweet Basil' collection. The New York City club debuted as a restaurant in 1974 and, within a few years, artists including Art Blakey, Gil Evans, Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Mal Waldron ...
Continue ReadingClifford Jordan: Drink Plenty Water and Walk Slow
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Continue ReadingClifford Jordan: Drink Plenty Water
by Dave Linn
In August 1974, Clifford Jordan entered the studio for what was to be the follow-up to his acclaimed 2-LP set, Glass Bead Games (1973) for his third album on the Strata-East label. Sadly, the label folded in 1975, and the album was never released. Now, 49 years later, Drink Plenty Water, has finally seen the light of day. It is a time capsule of that collaborative era when jazz stretched its boundaries. It features an all-star roster with a front ...
Continue ReadingOrnette Coleman: Genesis of Genius: The Contemporary Albums
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Continue ReadingWinard Harper Honors Jazz Appreciation Month with California Lineup and Billy Higgins Tribute
Source:
Mosnar Communications, Inc
Drummer honoring personal legacy to celebrate jazz appreciation by making California appearances in Larkspur, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Pedro, and Cambria. (Detroit, MI) -- Exalt Entertainment Group, premiering jazz and spoken word artists internationally announced today that Winard Harper will appear with his sextet at several California venues to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month during April. One of the appearances in April also includes an event coproduced by The World Stage, known as The Stage. Harper stresses that this is ...
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Billy Higgins: Master Drummer of Modern Jazz
Source:
All About Jazz
Billy Higgins will always be ranked high on any list of the greatest drummers in jazz. He emerged to widespread attention when Ornette Coleman's ground-breaking quartet arrived in New York from California in 1959, and proceeded to create a schism in the jazz world which has echoes to this day. Higgins went on to build one of the most diverse careers in modern jazz, and added his own particular magic to any setting in which he featured.
His activities as ...
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Billy Higgins Tribute/Benefit Was A Rousing Success
Source:
All About Jazz
The Benefit/Tribute For Billy Higgins,held in LA on Sunday,March 18th.2001 was a ROARING LOVING SUCCESS!!! Herbie Hancock & Hubert Laws performed together.Kenny Burrell,Ernie Andrews,Barbara Morrison,The Rev.O.C.Smith,Sherman Ferguson's “JazzUnion",Teddy Edwards and his Big Band,David Ornette Cherry,Charles McPherson & Son,Larance Marable,George Bohanon & BonSoir,Harold Lands(Senior & Junior)John Heard,Richard Reid,Roberto Miranda,and an excellent student ensemble from the LA area, plus many others performed and 'demonstrated their loving feelings'to Mr.Billy Higgins.For those of you unaware,Billy is in need of another liver transplant.He is in ...
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Billy Higgins Tribute and Benefit
Source:
All About Jazz
A giant benefit will be held for drummer Billy Higgins on Sunday March 18, 2001 from 2:00p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Musicians Union Local 47 in Hollywood. The line-up includes James Moody, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Burrell, Harold Land and Bobby Hutcherson paired together in a quintet format for this occasion only, the Trombone quartet Bonesoir, Kamau Daaood, Benny Maupin, Hubert Laws, O.C. Smith, Barbara Morrison, Ernie Andrews, the Teddy Edwards Big Band, the Jazz Union led by drummer Sherman ...
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LA Love-In For Mr. Billy Higgins
Source:
All About Jazz
Mr.Billy Higgins is in Need of another Liver Transplant.On Sunday March 18th.2001 2PM-10PM at the Musicians Union in Hollywood,there will be an Enormous “Love-In" for Billy Higgins. The Union is located at 817 N.Vine St.,Hollywood,CA.This “Love-In" will be a Benefit to help alleviate the enormous medical costs.The line-up of musicians participating in this event is as follows: David Ornette Cherry & Group,Harold Land & Bobby Hutcherson Quintet, Kenny Burrell,Ray Brown,Laurence Marable Trio,Sherman Ferguson's “JazzUnion",George Bohanon & “Bonsoir",Herbie Hancock, O.C.Smith,James Moody,Hubert ...
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BILLY HIGGINS UPDATE
Source:
All About Jazz
As many of you may be aware legendary drummer Billy Higgins is very sick and in need of a liver transplant.
We have been in communication with Billy and he wants everyone to know that his spirit is strong and that he is grateful for all the support, prayers and donations that he has received.
However, he is not out of danger and has been unable to work since the end of October. This has not only been very hard ...
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More about helping Billy Higgins
Source:
All About Jazz
Hello friends...
We are writing to ask for your help.
Unfortunately, Billy Higgins is very sick again. Five years ago he received a liver transplant which was miraculous and has served him well. In recent months the new liver has showed signs of severe damage and Billy has been told that he will need another transplant. He has been in and out of the hospital since the end of October and has been unable to work. This has not only ...
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