Zoot Sims facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zoot Sims
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Sims at the 52nd Street Jazz Fair in 1976
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Haley Sims |
| Born | October 29, 1925 Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 23, 1985 (aged 59) New York City, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1944–85 |
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John Haley "Zoot" Sims (born October 29, 1925 – died March 23, 1985) was an American jazz musician. He was famous for playing the saxophone, especially the tenor saxophone. He also played the alto and later the soprano saxophone. Zoot Sims first became well-known as part of the "Four Brothers" saxophone section in Woody Herman's big band. After that, he had a long career playing solo and often worked with other saxophonists like Gerry Mulligan and Al Cohn.
About Zoot Sims
Zoot Sims was born in 1925 in Inglewood, California. His parents, Kate Haley and John Sims, were vaudeville performers. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with different acts, like singing, dancing, and comedy. His father was a tap dancer, and Zoot remembered many of his father's dance steps. Growing up in a family of performers, Zoot learned to play drums and clarinet when he was very young. His brother, Ray Sims, also became a musician and played the trombone.
Early Music Career
Zoot started playing the tenor saxophone at age 13. He looked up to famous saxophonists like Lester Young, Ben Webster, and Don Byas. When he was a teenager, he left high school to play in "big bands." Big bands are large groups of musicians, usually with many brass and woodwind instruments. He first played with Kenny Baker and Bobby Sherwood. In 1943, he joined Benny Goodman's band, which was very famous. He played with Goodman many times, even into the 1970s. Zoot made his first recording in 1944 with a group led by pianist Joe Bushkin.
Military Service and Return to Music
From 1944 to 1946, Zoot Sims served in the United States Army Air Forces. After his military service, he returned to music. He played in bands led by Artie Shaw, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich. He was also one of the famous "Four Brothers" in Woody Herman's band. This group was known for its unique saxophone sound.
From 1954 to 1956, Zoot toured with his friend Gerry Mulligan's sextet. A sextet is a group of six musicians. In the early 1960s, he also played with Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band. Zoot Sims played on some recordings by the writer Jack Kerouac. From the late 1950s until the end of his life, Zoot mostly worked as a freelance musician. This means he played with many different groups and artists. He often worked with Al Cohn in the 1960s and early 1970s.
In the 1970s and 1980s, he regularly played and recorded with other musicians like Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Venuti, and Jimmy Rowles. In 1975, he started recording for Pablo Records. He appeared on more than 20 albums for Pablo, often as the main solo artist. He also played with famous musicians like Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, and Clark Terry.
How Zoot Got His Name
Zoot got his nickname "Zoot" early in his career. This happened when he was playing in Kenny Baker's band in California. Each music stand in the band had a silly word on it. The stand Zoot sat behind said "Zoot." That word then became his nickname!
Later Recordings and Legacy
Zoot Sims played a short, 30-second saxophone solo on the song "Poetry Man" by singer Phoebe Snow in 1974. He also played on "Lonely Women" by Laura Nyro.
His very last studio recording was in November 1984, with bassist Red Mitchell in Sweden. This album was released in 1985. Zoot Sims passed away from lung cancer on March 23, 1985, in New York City. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Nyack, New York.
Zoot Sims' Music: Albums and Collaborations
Zoot Sims recorded many albums as a band leader and also played on albums with other famous musicians.
Albums by Zoot Sims (Selected)
- 1950: The Zoot Sims Quartet in Paris
- 1951: Swinging with Zoot
- 1956: The Modern Art of Jazz by Zoot Sims
- 1957: From A to...Z (with Al Cohn)
- 1957: Zoot!
- 1959: Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note (with Al Cohn and Phil Woods)
- 1960: You 'n' Me (with Al Cohn)
- 1960: Down Home
- 1962: New Beat Bossa Nova Means The Samba Swings
- 1964: Two Jims and Zoot (with Jimmy Raney and Jim Hall)
- 1973: Body and Soul (with Al Cohn)
- 1974: Nirvana (with Bucky Pizzarelli)
- 1975: Basie & Zoot (with Count Basie)
- 1975: Zoot Sims and the Gershwin Brothers (with Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass)
- 1976: Soprano Sax
- 1977: If I'm Lucky (with Jimmy Rowles)
- 1979: Warm Tenor (with Jimmy Rowles)
- 1980: Passion Flower: Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington
- 1981: I Wish I Were Twins (with Jimmy Rowles)
- 1983: Suddenly It's Spring
- 1984: Quietly There: Zoot Sims Plays Johnny Mandel
Playing with Other Artists (Selected)
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With Al Cohn
With Gerry Mulligan
With Sarah Vaughan
With Others
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See also
In Spanish: Zoot Sims para niños
