Zoot Sims, 1964

Photo by Salem State Archives (CC BY 4.0)

Zoot Sims

Tenor Saxophone · born 29 October 1925 – died 23 March 1985

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Did Zoot (John Haley) Sims ever make a poor record, or deliver a less than enjoyable performance? Mere consistency is the enemy of the creative jazz player, but Sims belied the maxim: a modest titan who made a virtue out of his impeccable reliability. His family were vaudeville performers and he started on clarinet before taking up the saxophone in his teens. His first important work was with Benny Goodman, starting in 1943, and after army service he was one of the 'Four Brothers' in Woody Herman's 1947 band. From there he worked with Buddy Rich, Goodman again, Elliot Lawrence and Stan Kenton, but from around 1953 his career was spent working as a freelance. He struck up an invincible partnership with his former Herman sideman Al Cohn: they toured and recorded as the leaders of an occasional but frequently convened quintet, which endured into the 80s. Besides this he gigged and recorded as a solo himself, as well as doing high-profile sideman work with Goodman, Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry and others. He turns up on many record dates as an almost unannounced soloist, and always gives his best: one isolated example might be his solos on the debut record by songwriter Phoebe Snow (Phoebe Snow, 1974). For a long time his recording career as a leader had something of a laissez-faire quality to it, but in the 70s Norman Granz signed him to his Pablo label and finally took the cheerfully wayward Sims in hand: his Pablo albums, especially those with such simpatico spirits as Jimmy Rowles, place his wonderful, burnished-but-homely sound and compulsively swinging phrasing in a rounded context at last. Sims was routinely characterized as a Lester Young follower, but even at the time of Young's death Lester's shade had been comprehensively sidelined in Zoot's own playing: it surely belongs only to the man blowing the horn. There should have been much more of it for listeners to hear, but cancer brought about his passing just short of his 60th birthday.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Zoot Sims – The Modern Art of JazzZoot Sims – The Modern Art of Jazz
  • Stan Getz / Zoot Sims / Al Cohn / Allen Eager / Brew Moore – The BrothersStan Getz / Zoot Sims / Al Cohn / Allen Eager / Brew Moore – The Brothers
  • Zoot Sims – QuartetsZoot Sims – Quartets
  • Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer – Tonite’s Music TodayZoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer – Tonite’s Music Today
  • Zoot Sims – Plays Alto Tenor and BaritoneZoot Sims – Plays Alto Tenor and Baritone
  • Zoot Sims – Plays 4 AltosZoot Sims – Plays 4 Altos
  • Zoot Sims – ZootZoot Sims – Zoot
  • Zoot Sims – Goes to JazzvilleZoot Sims – Goes to Jazzville
  • Hank Mobley / Al Cohn / John Coltrane / Zoot Sims – Tenor ConclaveHank Mobley / Al Cohn / John Coltrane / Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave
  • Al Cohn / Zoot Sims – From A to ZAl Cohn / Zoot Sims – From A to Z
  • Zoot Sims – Zoot!Zoot Sims – Zoot!
  • Bob Brookmeyer And Zoot Sims – WhooeeeeBob Brookmeyer And Zoot Sims – Whooeeee
  • Zoot Sims – Waiting GameZoot Sims – Waiting Game

Plays on

  • Gerry Mulligan – California ConcertsGerry Mulligan – California Concerts
  • Gerry Mulligan – Presenting the Gerry Mulligan SextetGerry Mulligan – Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet
  • Various Artists – ConceptionVarious Artists – Conception
  • Miles Davis – Miles Davis and HornsMiles Davis – Miles Davis and Horns
  • Jon Eardley – Jon Eardley SevenJon Eardley – Jon Eardley Seven
  • James Moody – James Moody’s MoodsJames Moody – James Moody’s Moods
  • Quincy Jones – This Is How I Feel About JazzQuincy Jones – This Is How I Feel About Jazz
  • Jutta Hipp – With Zoot SimsJutta Hipp – With Zoot Sims
  • Al Cohn Quintet – Al and ZootAl Cohn Quintet – Al and Zoot
  • Gerry Mulligan – Mainstream of JazzGerry Mulligan – Mainstream of Jazz
  • Trigger Alpert – Trigger Happy!Trigger Alpert – Trigger Happy!

Mentioned in text

  • Cannonball Adderley – Presenting CannonballCannonball Adderley – Presenting Cannonball
  • Paul Quinichette – The Kid from DenverPaul Quinichette – The Kid from Denver
  • Clifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin StreetClifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin Street
  • Brew Moore – The Brew Moore QuintetBrew Moore – The Brew Moore Quintet
  • Various Artists – The Jazz Giants ’56Various Artists – The Jazz Giants ’56
  • Gerry Mulligan Quartet – Paris ConcertGerry Mulligan Quartet – Paris Concert
  • Sanford Gold – Piano D’orSanford Gold – Piano D’or
  • Elmo Hope – Hope Meets FosterElmo Hope – Hope Meets Foster
  • George Wallington – Jazz for the Carriage TradeGeorge Wallington – Jazz for the Carriage Trade
  • Jackie McLean Quintet – Lights Out!Jackie McLean Quintet – Lights Out!
  • Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford – Vol. 2Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford – Vol. 2
  • Lars Gullin – Baritone SaxLars Gullin – Baritone Sax
  • Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre 3Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre 3
  • Art Pepper – Meets the Rhythm SectionArt Pepper – Meets the Rhythm Section
  • Al Cohn – The Al Cohn QuintetAl Cohn – The Al Cohn Quintet
  • Chet Baker – Chet Baker & CrewChet Baker – Chet Baker & Crew
  • Jim Hall – Jazz GuitarJim Hall – Jazz Guitar
  • The Jazz Messengers – RitualThe Jazz Messengers – Ritual
  • Art Farmer / Donald Byrd – Two TrumpetsArt Farmer / Donald Byrd – Two Trumpets
  • Herbie Mann – Flute SouffléHerbie Mann – Flute Soufflé
  • Prestige All-Stars – EarthyPrestige All-Stars – Earthy
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Phil Woods / Gene Quill – Phil Woods & Gene Quill with PrestigePhil Woods / Gene Quill – Phil Woods & Gene Quill with Prestige
  • Coleman Hawkins – The Hawk Flies HighColeman Hawkins – The Hawk Flies High
  • Art Pepper – Return of Art PepperArt Pepper – Return of Art Pepper
  • Warne Marsh – Warne MarshWarne Marsh – Warne Marsh
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • Louis Smith – Here Comes Louis SmithLouis Smith – Here Comes Louis Smith
  • Lee Morgan – CandyLee Morgan – Candy
  • Louis Smith – SmithvilleLouis Smith – Smithville
  • Red Mitchell – Presenting Red MitchellRed Mitchell – Presenting Red Mitchell
  • Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3
  • Gil Evans – Gil Evans & TenGil Evans – Gil Evans & Ten
  • Mose Allison – Local ColorMose Allison – Local Color
  • Hal McKusick – Triple ExposureHal McKusick – Triple Exposure
  • Mose Allison – Young Man MoseMose Allison – Young Man Mose
  • Stan Getz – Stan Getz in StockholmStan Getz – Stan Getz in Stockholm
  • Dizzy Reece – Blues in TrinityDizzy Reece – Blues in Trinity
  • Cecil Taylor Quartet – Looking Ahead!Cecil Taylor Quartet – Looking Ahead!
  • Lester Young – Pres and TeddyLester Young – Pres and Teddy
  • Lee Morgan – Lee-WayLee Morgan – Lee-Way
  • Bill Evans Trio – ExplorationsBill Evans Trio – Explorations
  • Curtis Amy & Frank Butler – Groovin’ BlueCurtis Amy & Frank Butler – Groovin’ Blue
  • Gary McFarland – Point of DepartureGary McFarland – Point of Departure
  • John Coltrane – A Love SupremeJohn Coltrane – A Love Supreme