Cliff Heather?

Login to Reply
J
jorymil
Posts: 304
Joined: Oct 26, 2019

by jorymil »

One of my absolute favorite albums is Thad Jones/Mel Lewis's "Consummation," where Cliff Heather's on bass trombone, and is just this lovely warm bear at the bottom of all the horn parts. Who was this guy, and why don't we hear more about him? It looks like Alan Raph studied with him, but apart from that and his work with the Thad/Mel band, crickets.
K
King2bPlus
Posts: 49
Joined: Apr 01, 2018

by King2bPlus »

He played with a number of bands including Larry Clinton and Sammy Spear. I believe he played Tenor on these bands and played in the Dorsey style. Moved to Bass later on.
P
PhilTrombone
Posts: 161
Joined: Nov 06, 2018

by PhilTrombone »

He was a regular on the Ed Sullivan show: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ed_Sullivan_Show


And the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. He was already retired when I met him. He used to organize a brass group for the Xmas holidays, which I got to play in.
S
Superslick79H
Posts: 6
Joined: Nov 14, 2021

by Superslick79H »

I realize this is several years later, so much for a spontaneous discussion. If I remember correctly, Cliff suffered a stroke around 1974-75. I was fortunate enough to see him with Thad&mels band, at least a half dozen times. When I saw them in Cambridge,Ma in May of 1974, Cliff was still in the band as well as Quentin"Butter"Jackson. I do believe I read where he had played in the NBC orchestra under Toscanini.

I know he played tenor gtrombone in Larry Clintons orchestra

Does anyone know Cliffs ultimate fate or can add to this?

I also think Cliff usually played the Conn 70H
I
ithinknot
Posts: 1339
Joined: Jul 24, 2020

by ithinknot »

[quote="Superslick79H"]I also think Cliff usually played the Conn 70H[/quote]

72H here: <YOUTUBE id="hEmxmFGjlQ8" t="654">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEmxmFGjlQ8&t=654s</YOUTUBE>