Wonderful pair of articles about a fascinating drummer who managed to remain "contemporary" for much of his career. I once saw Tootie backing Pharoah Sanders (with Kirk Lightsey, Tony Dumas, and Babatunde Lea also on board) and he blew the roof off the Lighthouse (or maybe it was Concerts By The Sea — I forget which). This was in the late 70's. Back then I was playing a bit of drums and idolized Eric Gravatt, who positioned his ride sky high and vertical, playing with his head leaning on his outstretched right arm. Tootie had TWO cymbals positioned super high but horizontal — I honestly couldn't understand how he was hitting them, it was like a circus act. By the way, you might consider adding something from "Kawaida" to your YouTube playlist. That was of course a de facto Mtume album credited to Tootie, but it's a fascinating session with Ed Blackwell playing a second set of traps on some tracks, and Don Cherry playing alongside Jimmy Heath and Herbie Hancock.
Wonderful pair of articles about a fascinating drummer who managed to remain "contemporary" for much of his career. I once saw Tootie backing Pharoah Sanders (with Kirk Lightsey, Tony Dumas, and Babatunde Lea also on board) and he blew the roof off the Lighthouse (or maybe it was Concerts By The Sea — I forget which). This was in the late 70's. Back then I was playing a bit of drums and idolized Eric Gravatt, who positioned his ride sky high and vertical, playing with his head leaning on his outstretched right arm. Tootie had TWO cymbals positioned super high but horizontal — I honestly couldn't understand how he was hitting them, it was like a circus act. By the way, you might consider adding something from "Kawaida" to your YouTube playlist. That was of course a de facto Mtume album credited to Tootie, but it's a fascinating session with Ed Blackwell playing a second set of traps on some tracks, and Don Cherry playing alongside Jimmy Heath and Herbie Hancock.
Thanks for that. Some things I’m looking forward to investigating. Harold Land’s Mapenzi has excellent Albert Heath too.
https://youtu.be/4wazNsLbCJE?si=tbaqRnPwXgeHvSSp some really sweet footage of that trio with Joe Henderson
thanks so much vinnie! listening to the live version of 4 at present off your first link..