Zoot Sims
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John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 - March 23, 1985) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and soprano saxophonist.
He was born in Inglewood, California. Sims' family was involved in vaudeville, and, for his part, John learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age. Sims' father was a vaudeville hoofer, and he prided himself on remembering many of the steps his father taught him.
Following in the footsteps of Lester Young, Sims developed into an innovative tenor saxophonist. Throughout his career, he played with renowned bands, including Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich. Sims was known among his peers as one of the strongest swingers in the field. He frequently led his own combos and sometimes toured with his friend Gerry Mulligan's sextet, and later with Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band. Sims had a long, successful partnership as co-leader of a quintet with Al Cohn, which recorded under the name "Al and Zoot". That group was a favorite at the New York club "The Half Note." Late in his career, Sims added the soprano saxophone to his performances. Sims acquired the nickname — Zoot — early in his career while he was in the Kenny Baker band in California. The name was later appropriated for a sax-playing Muppet.
Zoot Sims died in New York on March 23, 1985.
[edit] Discography (partial)
- Zoot (1956) with Johnny Williams, Gus Johnson and Knobby Totah
- Tenor Conclave (1956) with Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Art Taylor
- Together Again! (1957) with Al Cohn, Herbie Steward, Serge Chaloff, Elliot Lawrence, Burgher Jones and Don Lamond
- A Night at the Half Note (1959) with Al Cohn, Mose Allison, Paul Motian, Nabil Totah, and Phil Woods
- Either Way (1959-60) with Cecil Colier, Bill Crow, Gus Johnson, and Mose Allison
- You'n Me (1960) with Al Cohn, Mose Allison, Major Holley, and Osie Johnson
- Down home (1960) with Dave McKenna, George Tucker, and Dannie Richmond
- Soprano Sax (1976) with Ray Bryant, George Mraz, and Grady Tate
- If I'm Lucky (1977) with Jimmy Rowles, George Mraz and Mousey Alexander
- Quietly There (1984) with Mike Wofford, Chuck Berchofer, Nick Ceroll, and Victor Feldman
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