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Powerful, allusive sounds of Philadelphia

Albert Heath
Kwanza (The First)
(Elemental) 
Jimmy Heath 
Picture of Heath 
(Elemental)
 

KWANZA (Swahili for “first”), an album released on the Xanadu label in 1973, was a first for three reasons.

It was Albert “Tootie” Heath’s first album as leader, his first as composer and for the first time on record the three musical Heath brothers had played together as a trio — drummer Tootie, reedman Jimmy and bassist Percy, combining for Percy’s tune Oops!

Tootie was born in Philadelphia in 1935, the younger brother of Percy (born 1923) and Jimmy (born 1926).

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