Musician Guides/Current Calendar Ranking

Verified Global Musician

Charles Heath

Charles Rick Heath IV is a Chicago drummer, bandleader, producer, and educator whose quartet and teaching work extend a long association with Ramsey Lewis.

DrumsBandleaderProducerEducator8 current shows

Photo source · Official artist media

Career Overview

About Charles Heath

Columbia College Chicago identifies Charles Rick Heath IV as a Chicago musician, educator, producer, drum-set instructor, and quartet leader. Its faculty biography follows his work in schools and universities alongside professional performance and recording.[1]

The faculty profile documents more than a decade as Ramsey Lewis's drummer through the pianist's 2021 retirement and work on the national touring production of The Color Purple. Jazz Showcase preserves the full performance identity used for Heath's Chicago quartet dates.[1][2]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Leader and drummer

Charles Heath Quartet

Jazz Showcase presents Heath's quartet under both Charles Heath and Charles Rick Heath IV, with rotating Chicago personnel.[2]

Drummer

Ramsey Lewis ensemble

2010–2021

Columbia documents Heath's tenure with Lewis from 2010 until the pianist's retirement.[1]

Drum-set instructor and educator

Chicago music education

The faculty biography traces teaching from Chicago public schools into college drum-set instruction and secondary-school music leadership.[1]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2023

Ceder's Blues

Leader and drummer with Charles Heath Presents

Heath's project playlist opens its documented live series with a quartet reading of Cedar Walton's blues.[4]

Release details

2023

Actual Proof

Leader and drummer with Charles Heath Presents

The artist-linked playlist presents Heath leading Rocky Yera, Ryan Cohan, and Jeremiah Hunt at Andy's Jazz Club.[4]

Release details

2023

Infant Eyes

Leader and drummer with Charles Heath Presents

The live quartet performance continues the same documented Chicago series in a Wayne Shorter composition.[4]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Charles Heath Presents

Watch the quartet performance series linked from Heath's verified Chicago musician profile.

Jazz Showcase artist page

Open the venue's quartet guide for current performance identity and Chicago ensemble context.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Thu, Aug 27, 8:00 PM

Saxophonist Eric Schneider & Friends

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

Show details

Fri, Aug 28, 8:00 PM

Saxophonist Eric Schneider & Friends

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

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Sat, Aug 29, 8:00 PM

Saxophonist Eric Schneider & Friends

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

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Sun, Aug 30, 8:00 PM

Saxophonist Eric Schneider & Friends

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

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Sun, Sep 13, 5:30 PM

Bruce Henry Quartet with special guest Kevin King - The Great Male Voices of Jazz: Armstrong, Cole, Hendricks, Jarreau

Winter's Jazz Club · Chicago

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Sun, Sep 13, 7:30 PM

Bruce Henry Quartet with special guest Kevin King - The Great Male Voices of Jazz: Armstrong, Cole, Hendricks, Jarreau

Winter's Jazz Club · Chicago

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Mon, Sep 21, 8:00 PM

Charles Rick Heath

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

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Mon, Sep 21, 8:00 PM

Al Jarreau Tribute feat. Vocalist Bruce Henry

Jazz Showcase · Chicago

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Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Chicago faculty biography and career history

    Columbia College Chicago

  2. [2] Charles Heath Quartet artist page

    Jazz Showcase

  3. [3] Drum artist biography and portrait

    Vic Firth

  4. [4] Charles Heath Presents performance series

    Player To Player / Charles Heath