Here’s an item purloined (with his permission) from bassist Bill Crow’s column “The Band Room” in Allegro, the publication of New York Local 802 of the American Federation Of Musicians.
Zoot Sims was one of the many tenor saxophonists who took Lester Young’s style as a starting point for their own development. But Zoot also idolized Coleman Hawkins (pictured left). He once told me, “Hawk never played a wrong note in his life.” Zoot had a classic Volvo that he was very fond of. He had it completely overhauled, had it painted red, and polished up the chrome. 
He was showing it to Hawkins (pictured left) one day, and when Hawk turned the handle on the passenger door, the handle came off. He handed it to Zoot, who went around to the driver’s side and opened the door for Hawk, and then put the handle in the glove compartment. Because the door handle had come off in the hand of his idol, Zoot never had it repaired. The handle remained in Zoot’s glove compartment for the rest of his life.
If Bill’s story put you in a mood to listen to Zoot, you’re in luck. Here he is at the Cannes Jazz Festival in 1958 with Walter Davis, Jr., piano; Arthur Taylor, drums; and Doug Watkins, bass. They play, “I’ll Remember April.”
Incandescent Zoot ! And tasty back-up,especially the percussion. In 1958, Zoot’s axe was still shiny. It seems this happened in France.
Yes. As noted, it was in Cannes.
Zoot Sims was a fabulous musician. Thanks for the appreciation. The LP he did where he plays four altos is amazing. I got to see him once at the Keystone Korner in SF, and was knocked out by his gorgeous tone. Sometimes I think that his nickname and laid-back personality kept casual jazz fans from taking him more seriously. He was a treasure
Thank you very much for posting that charming incident. I remember hearing the Zoot Sims- Al Cohn Quintet probably back sometime in the 60’s at either the old Showboat Lounge or at Blues Alley in Washington , DC..
I do have one recording with Zoot Sims featured along with German pianist Jutta Hipp. Since I have not listened to that one for a while, I think that I will put that recording on my playlist for today.
Long ago I heard Benny Goodman, on a TV show, call him “Zit Sooms”…
I wonder whether Bil Crow ever saw that show.
One could write a research paper on various jazz musicians and how they acquired their nicknames. Examples: Zoot, Hawk, Prez
I hate to be pedantic, but Coleman Hawkins’ nickname is “Bean” – Harry James (because of the aspect of his nose) is “Hawk” – this despite a great Hawkins album entitled “The Hawk Flies High”. Please accept with only my most cordial of wishes!!
Thanks for that great story of two jazz legends.
I am a big fan of Zoot Sims who, in my opinion, remains one of the most underrated jazz musicians of all time.
I have almost all of his recordings and particularly enjoy his collaborations with his great friend and also jazz legend, Al Cohn. For jazz fans unfamiliar with either Zoot or Al check out the fantastic album, Body and Soul, that they recorded for the Muse label in 1973. I highly recommended it.
I don’t know why but I didn’t listen to a lot of Zoot till I was a decade+ into my jazz listening “career”. When I did it was with the “Body and Soul” release highlighted by Mr. Bolger! Haven’t stopped since.