Oldest Heath finally records on own

NEW YORK, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- After five decades in music and playing or recording with virtually every jazz legend, bassist Percy Heath finally has a recording to call his own.

The founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and eldest of the three Heath Brothers has just released "A Love Song," a quartet session on which he's the leader. It's out on Daddy Jazz Records, a label based in Little Rock, Ark.

"Percy has played or recorded with virtually every jazz legend, among them Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins and Dizzy Gillespie. Despite his pedigree and astounding five-decade career, he had never made a recording as a leader," said producer Andy Collins. "We went into the studio the day after Percy's 79th birthday and recorded his debut as a bandleader."

The CD is built around a 13-minute, four-part piece that Heath wrote for his late father. It's called "A Suite for Pop." Heath, now 80, plays bass and cello on the project. He is backed on the CD by pianist Jeb Patton, bassist Peter Washington and his youngest brother, drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath.