Jack Nimitz, 79, saxophonist in top big band
LOS ANGELES - Jack Nimitz, a jazz baritone saxophonist who played in the Woody Herman and Stan Kenton big bands and in the group Supersax, died Wednesday of complications of emphysema at his home in suburban Los Angeles. He was 79.
A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Nimitz began playing clarinet at an early age and alto saxophone at 14. He was still a teenager when he began playing professional gigs at Howard Theatre in Washington.
He soon fell in love with the baritone saxophone.
“It sounded so warm and nice and dark and rich,’’ he told the Los Angeles Times some years ago. “The bottom notes are the best notes in the whole orchestra, because if you don’t have a good bottom, nothing really works.’’
He bought his first baritone saxophone at age 20 and three years later was playing baritone in Herman’s band. Through the 1950s, he played with Herman, Kenton, and, later, Herbie Mann.
On the advice of colleagues in Kenton’s band, Mr. Nimitz came to Los Angeles in the early 1960s and established himself as a first-rank studio musician for scores of film soundtracks and recording sessions. He worked frequently for songwriter Johnny Mandel. He also played with such jazz luminaries as Benny Carter, Gerald Wilson, and the Lighthouse All-Stars.
In the early 1970s, he added his baritone to the Charlie Parker tribute band Supersax.
His first album as a leader was the 1995 session on Fresh Sound records called “Confirmation,’’ which focused heavily on bebop tunes.
“Bebop is the most sophisticated form of jazz,’’ he told the Times. “It’s very challenging, but also rewarding, because it feels so good when it happens.’’ 