Zoot Sims
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Biography
One of the leading tenor saxophonists of his time, John Haley âZootâ Sims belonged to nearly every crucial big band orchestra at one point or another, epitomized the smooth sound of his instrument, and would be immortalized by a Muppet bearing his nickname. Born in Southern California to a performing family, Sims worked through a succession of instruments before picking up the tenor sax (and the nickname âZootâ, for a nonsense word once written on his music stand) in the late 1930s. Proving wildly precocious, Sims played in both Bobby Sherwoodâs Orchestra and Benny Goodmanâs big band before he turned 20. He would later play his way into the ensembles of Artie Shaw, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, and Woody Herman, where he was one of the so-called âFour Brothersâ of his featured saxophone section.
Sims proved a formidable asset in the recording studio, as well, cutting LPs for Bob Weinstockâs lauded Prestige Records, along with Blue Note and Pablo Records. His early releases featured his smooth, swinging style, and sometimes featured Sims alongside his Brothers from Hermanâs band. He also began frequently collaborating with tenor saxophonist Al Cohn, a musical partnership that would span their lifetimes. A recording with German pianist Jutta Hipp for Blue Note earned particular acclaim, and arrived during a moment of peak creativity for Sims in the mid â50s, along with the albums Morning Fun, Toniteâs Music Today, a reunion of the Four Brothers, and Jazz Alive: A Night at the Half Note, a live set featuring Sims, Cohn, and alto sax player Phil Woods.
Over the years, Sims expanded his repertoire into the worlds of alto and soprano saxophone, and continued to release excellent records well into the 1980s, including collaborations with Count Basie, Art Pepper, and Harry âSweetsâ Edison, until his death in 1985 at the age of 59. But he did live long enough to see the creation of Zoot, the Muppet saxophone player for Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. The hip green puppet bore Simsâ nickname, but not his likeness, which was inspired by Argentine musician Gato Barbieri.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Violets For Your Furs by Zoot Sims
- My Old Flame
- Body and Soul by Zoot Sims
- You Go To My Head
- Evening In Paris
- Tenor Conclave featuring Hank Mobley
- Easy Living
- Everything I Love
- Four Brothers featuring Serge Chaloff
- The Pretty One featuring Serge Chaloff
- Aged in Wood featuring Serge Chaloff
- Four and One Moore featuring Serge Chaloff
- So Blue featuring Serge Chaloff
- The Swinging Door featuring Serge Chaloff
- Four in Hand featuring Serge Chaloff
- The Nether Regions featuring Pepper Adams
- Love Makes the World Go 'Round by Zoot Sims
- Emily
- Thruway featuring Pepper Adams
- All the Things You Are featuring Jimmy McGriff
- Four brothers
- My Own Best Friend featuring Jimmy McGriff
- Little Niles by Zoot Sims
- Mean to Me featuring Jimmy McGriff
