October 11, 1936 – May 3, 2001

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Drummer Billy Higgins was born on October 11, 1936 in Los Angeles, California.

Higgins began his musical career backing R&B artists like Bo Diddley.

His career took off after appearing on two ground-breaking Ornette Coleman albums: Something
Else!!!! (1958) and the watershed free jazz LP The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959).

Higgins spent the rest of his career as in demand jazz, rock, and funk drummer, appearing on over 700 recordings.

Later as a freelancer he was much in demand playing with Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Joe Henderson, Milt Jackson, Jackie McLean, Pat Metheny, Hank Mobley, Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan, David Murray, Art Pepper, Sonny Rollins, Mal Waldron, and Cedar Walton.

He served as the house drummer for Blue Note in the 1960s.

This tune is from Metheny’s Song X album a collaboration he did with Ornette Coleman. Coleman’s music had an early and massive influence on Metheny’s approach.

Personnel:

Pat Metheny, guitar
Billy Higgins, drums
Joshua Redman, tenor sax
Christian McBride, bass

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