He was born in Inglewood, California. Sims' family was involved in vaudeville, and, for his part, John learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age. Zoot's father was a vaudeville hoofer, and Zoot prided himself on remembering many of the steps his father taught him.
Following in the footsteps of Lester Young, Sims developed into an innovative tenor saxophonist. Throughout his career, he played with renowned bands, including Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich. He was known among his peers as one of the strongest swingers in the field. Sims frequently led his own combos and sometimes toured with his friend Gerry Mulligan with Gerry's sextet, and later with his Concert Jazz Band. Zoot had a long, successful partnership as co-leader of a quintet with Al Cohn, which recorded under "Al and Zoot". That group was a favorite at the New York club "The Half Note." Late in his career, Sims added the soprano saxophone to his performances. Sims' nickname — Zoot — was acquired early in his career while he was on the Kenny Baker band in California. The name was later appropriated for a sax-playing Muppet.
Zoot Sims died in New York on March 23, 1985.
(2) Throughout his career, Zoot Sims was famous for epitomizing the swinging musician, never playing an inappropriate phrase. He always sounded inspired, and although his style did not change much after the early 1950s, Zoot's enthusiasm and creativity never wavered.
Zoot's family was involved in vaudeville, and he played drums and clarinet as a youth. His older brother, Ray Sims, developed into a fine trombonist who sounded like Bill Harris. At age 13, Sims switched permanently to the tenor, and his initial inspiration was Lester Young, although he soon developed his own cool-toned sound. Sims was a professional by the age of 15, landing his first important job with Bobby Sherwood's Orchestra, and he joined Benny Goodman's big band for the first time in 1943; he would be one of BG's favorite tenormen for the next 30 years. He recorded with Joe Bushkin in 1944, and even at that early stage, his style was largely set.
After a period in the Army, Sims was with Goodman from 1946-1947. He gained his initial fame as one of Woody Herman's "Four Brothers" during his time with the Second Herd (1947-1949). Zoot had brief stints with Buddy Rich's short-lived big band, Artie Shaw, Goodman (1950), Chubby Jackson, and Elliot Lawrence. He toured and recorded with Stan Kenton (1953) and Gerry Mulligan (1954-1956). Sims was also a star soloist with Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band of the early '60s and visited the Soviet Union with Benny Goodman in 1962. A freelancer throughout most of his career, Sims often led his own combos or co-led bands with his friend Al Cohn; the two tenors had very similar sounds and styles. Zoot started doubling on soprano quite effectively in the '70s. Through the years, he appeared in countless situations, and always seemed to come out ahead. Fortunately, Zoot Sims recorded frequently, leading sessions for Prestige, Metronome, Vogue, Dawn, Storyville, Argo, ABC-Paramount, Riverside, United Artists, Pacific Jazz, Bethlehem, Colpix, Impulse, Groove Merchant, Famous Door, Choice, Sonet, and a wonderful series for Pablo. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
Caravan
Zoot Sims Lyrics
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The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
Zoot Sims's song Caravan is an ode to the enchanting and alluring nature of the desert. The song paints a picture of two lovers, travelling under the stars in the desert with the caravan. The lyrics begin with a description of the night sky and the stars illuminating the scene. The singer reveals the mystique and allure of the desert and how it conjures a certain feeling within him. He then goes on to talk about his lover resting upon his shoulder as they make their way across the sand, and how he wants to keep this memory of their caravan forever. The song's chorus is an expression of excitement and joy. The singer proclaims his happiness at being with his lover in this magical place under the stars.
The lyrics of Caravan are very evocative and sensual, painting a picture of two lovers lost in each other in a beautiful, mystical setting. The song is a celebration of love, passion, and adventure. The singer's wistful tone and the haunting melody combine to create a sense of longing and yearning that is universal and timeless. Caravan is a love song that speaks to the innermost desires of the human heart and is a testament to the power of music to evoke emotion and connect people.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The darkness of the night and the brightness of the stars above create a mystifying atmosphere.
The myst'ry of their fading light
The mystery of the stars' fading light leaves us pondering about the vast universe.
That shines upon our caravan
The starry sky provides a scenic background for our journey in the caravan.
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
As we slowly move forward on our journey, you rest comfortably on my shoulder.
Across the sand so I may keep
Our journey through the desert sands is what I want to cherish and hold onto.
The mem'ry of our caravan
Remembering the moments we spent together in the caravan is something I want to treasure.
This is so exciting
The adventure we are on is so thrilling and exhilarating.
You are so inviting
Being with you is so inviting, I feel warm and welcomed.
Resting in my arms
You are comfortably resting in my arms.
As I thrill to the magic charms
I am mesmerized by your captivating presence.
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
You are right by my side, beneath the blue sky, making this moment so special.
My dream of love is coming true
My dream of being with someone I love is finally coming to fruition.
Within our desert caravan
All of this is happening within the confines of our desert caravan.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RACHEL MARY BERKELEY PORTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind