James Charles Heard (August 10, 1917 – September 27, 1988) was an American swing, bop, and blues drummer.

Biography

Heard was born in Dayton, Ohio and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. As a young child, he performed as a tap dancer in amateur contests and vaudeville shows. Around the age of 11, Heard began to switch his focus to the drums. He started out teaching himself to play, then took lessons as a student at Cass Technical High School. His parents supported his interest, and brought him to see major performers who toured to Detroit's music venues. He would later describe seeing Chick Webb play in 1937 as a formative experience. He also performed at major jazz festivals, and played alongside Roy Eldridge and Charlie Parker. He was known for his innovative techniques and the hard swing he would bring to both large and small bands. In 1983, he again recorded an album as leader, accompanied by saxophonist George Benson, pianist Claude Black, and Dave Young on bass. In 1981, Heard started a 13-piece big band which played around the state and at festivals, often featuring Dizzy Gillespie and other colleagues. This group recorded in 1986 and continued performing regularly until his death.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

  • 1956: Calypso For Dancing (Philips (Australia))
  • 1958: This is Me, J. C. Heard (Argo)
  • 1964: Live At The Lighthouse 1964 (Fresh Sound) with Bill Perkins
  • 1983: The Detroit Jazz Tradition - Alive & Well (Parkwood)
  • 1986: Some of This, Some of That! - JC Heard Orchestra (Hiroko)
  • 1988: Mr. B. with J.C. Heard - Partners in Time - with George Benson (Blind Pig Records)
  • 1980s: J.C. Heard Featuring Charlie Gabriel and Friends (Gabriel Historical Society)

As sideman

With Toshiko Akiyoshi

  • Toshiko's Piano (Norgaran, 1953)

With Gene Ammons

  • Nice an' Cool (Moodsville, 1961)
  • Jug (Prestige, 1961)

With Shorty Baker and Doc Cheatham

  • Shorty & Doc (Swingville, 1961)

With Benny Carter

  • Cosmopolite (Norgran, 1952 [1955])

With Doc Cheatham

  • Hey Doc! (Black & Blue, 1975)

With Arnett Cobb

  • Sizzlin (Prestige, 1960)
  • Ballads by Cobb (Moodsvile, 1960)

With Roy Eldridge

  • Rockin' Chair (Clef, 1951)

With Bud Freeman

  • The Bud Freeman All-Stars featuring Shorty Baker (Swingville, 1960) with Shorty Baker

With Dizzy Gillespie

  • Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff Smith (Verve, 1957)
  • Sittin' In (Verve, 1957)

With Al Grey

  • Al Grey Featuring Arnett Cobb (Black & Blue, 1977)

With Norman Granz

  • Norman Granz' Jam Session, #1 (Clef MGC 601) this and the following album features Benny Carter, Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker, Ben Webster and others
  • Norman Granz' Jam Session, #2 (Clef MGC 602)

With Johnny Hodges

  • In a Tender Mood (Norgran, 1952 [1955])
  • The Blues (Norgran, 1952–54, [1955])

With Claude Hopkins

  • Let's Jam (Swingville, 1961) with Buddy Tate and Joe Thomas

With Illinois Jacquet

  • Illinois Jacquet Quartet (Storyville, 1978)
  • God Bless My Solo (Black & Blue, 1978)

With Ellis Larkins

  • A Smooth One (Black & Blue, 1977)

With Howard McGhee

  • Howard McGhee and Milt Jackson (Savoy, 1948 [1955])

With Oscar Peterson

  • JATP Lausanne 1953 (TCB 02152, 1953)
  • Lausanne 1953 (TCB 02162, 1953)

With Sammy Price

  • Fire (Black & Blue, 1975)
  • Rockin' Boogie (Black & Blue, 1975)

With Ike Quebec

  • Ike Quebec 1944-1946 (Classics)

With Al Sears

  • Things Ain't What They Used to Be (Swingville, 1961) as part of the Prestige Swing Festival

With Sir Charles Thompson

  • Sir Charles Thompson And The Swing Organ (Columbia, 1959)

With Mary Lou Williams

  • The Zodiac Suite <!-- Not the Folkways release which is a different recording from six months earlier without JC Heard. -->(Vintage Jazz Classics, 1945)

With Teddy Wilson

  • Piano Moods (Columbia, 1950) – majority of tracks
  • Soft Moods (Clef, 1953)

With John Wright

  • Nice 'n' Tasty (Prestige, 1961)

With Lester Young

  • Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio (Norgran, 1952)

References

  • See his early recordings on the Continental label at The Remington Site