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
The Moon Is Low
Zoot Sims Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Забpошенный сад опустел, Он был как пpощальный вокзал, И кто-то из нас не посмел Войти в этот сказочный зал.
Hе пpячь зелёные глаза, Утpи слезу, довеpься мне.
Твои зелёные глаза Hе на беду, не на беду, повеpь.
Мечтаю о близости pук, Не жду повоpота в судьбе, В гpуди учащается стук, Всё тянет и тянет к тебе.
Hам негде встpечаться пока, Забpошенный сад опустел, К pуке потянулась pука, Никто помешать не посмел.
Hе пpячь зелёные глаза, Утpи слезу, довеpься мне.
Твои зелёные глаза Hе на беду, не на беду, повеpь.
Твои зелёные глаза Hе на беду, не на беду, повеpь.
Hе пpячь зелёные глаза, Утpи слезу, довеpься мне.
Твои зелёные глаза Hе на беду, не на беду, повеpь.
The lyrics of Zoot Sims's song, The Moon is Low, express a sense of urgency and longing between two people who are separated and unable to meet. The abandoned garden that is described in the song represents the emptiness and loneliness that the characters feel. The garden was once like a farewell train station, perhaps indicating that the two people were saying goodbye, but now it is empty and sterile. The singer longs for the touch of the other person's hand and feels that fate is pulling them together. The repeated lyric that says "Don't hide your green eyes" signifies that the singer wants the other person to be honest and show their emotions without fear.
The song speaks to the universal experience of love and loss, and the hope that two people can come together despite the obstacles in their way. The emotions conveyed through the lyrics are timeless and relatable, and the melody adds to the melancholic tone. The Moon is Low was written in a different language by a Russian composer and lyricist, but Zoot Sims was able to rearrange the song with his own jazz interpretation and create an entirely new work of art.
Line by Line Meaning
Нам негде встречаться сейчас,
We have nowhere to meet right now,
Прошу, если можешь, прости,
Please forgive me if you can,
И всё, как назло, против нас,
And everything is against us,
От этого нам не уйти.
We cannot escape from this.
Заброшенный сад опустел,
The abandoned garden is deserted,
Он был как прощальный вокзал,
It was like a farewell station,
И кто-то из нас не посмел
And one of us did not dare
Войти в этот сказочный зал.
To enter this fairy tale hall.
Не прячь зелёные глаза,
Don't hide your green eyes,
Утри слезу, доверься мне.
Wipe away your tears, trust me.
Твои зелёные глаза
Your green eyes,
Не на беду, не на беду, поверь.
Are not a bad omen, believe me.
Мечтаю о близости рук,
I dream of being close to you,
Не жду поворота в судьбе,
I'm not waiting for a turn of fate,
В груди учащается стук,
My heart is beating faster,
Всё тянет и тянет к тебе.
Everything is drawing me closer to you.
Хам негде встречаться пока,
We have nowhere to meet for now,
Заброшенный сад опустел,
The abandoned garden is deserted,
К руке потянулась рука,
Our hands reach out to each other,
Никто помешать не посмел.
No one dared to stop us.
Не прячь зелёные глаза,
Don't hide your green eyes,
Утри слезу, доверься мне.
Wipe away your tears, trust me.
Твои зелёные глаза
Your green eyes,
Не на беду, не на беду, поверь.
Are not a bad omen, believe me.
Не прячь зелёные глаза,
Don't hide your green eyes,
Утри слезу, доверься мне.
Wipe away your tears, trust me.
Твои зелёные глаза
Your green eyes,
Не на беду, не на беду, поверь.
Are not a bad omen, believe me.
Не прячь зелёные глаза,
Don't hide your green eyes,
Утри слезу, доверься мне.
Wipe away your tears, trust me.
Твои зелёные глаза
Your green eyes,
Не на беду, не на беду, поверь.
Are not a bad omen, believe me.
Contributed by Jordyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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