Torn Between 2 Muses

In the late ‘80s, after working healthy stints with such well- known jazzmen as Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal, the decidedly talented bassist John Heard quit playing music. His goal was to focus full time on his career as a visual artist. Heard had been drawing since he was 6 or 7, had never stopped and had recently added sculpture to his repertoire.

He took the move seriously, even loaning his bass to a youth in his native Pittsburgh, Pa.

“I had played with everyone I wanted to, accomplished what I had wanted to, so why should I hang around?” Heard asks rhetorically, summing up his philosophy then.

Well, to answer his thought, because music had become an inseparable part of his life. And despite a successful stretch as a visual artist, during which time he turned out, and sold, everything from an acrylic of Ella Fitzgerald to bronze busts of Duke Ellington, by the early ‘90s Heard was back at the bass.

“You always miss doing something you like doing,” said Heard, who’s lived in North Hollywood with his wife, Carolyn, and their children since 1969.

The bassist appears Saturday with Latin jazz drummer Ray Armando’s band at Chadney’s in Burbank. He said that these days he tries to balance his art and music careers. “I can’t give either one up completely,” he said.

Heard began drawing about nine years before he played music. Then came saxophone, and then string bass, in school bands.

Heard’s sister had a good jazz collection, and that’s where he listened to such notables as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Jamal, whose bassist, Israel Crosby, was his first major influence.

“Jazz just got to me,” Heard said. He also snuck into a local jazz club and saw more top names. “That was my education.”

Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Heard lived and played in Buffalo and San Francisco, and was hired by the best: Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins and Cal Tjader, among others. It was in Southern California, from 1974-76, that he played with Basie, and it turned out their musical philosophies were in alignment.

“He told me my job was to bring a smile to the people’s faces, and make them want to tap their foot,” he said. “And those are things that I like doing. I like looking into the audience, seeing the heads bobbing, and knowing that we’re connected.”

Armando, with whom Heard has appeared for a few years, has a style the bassist enjoys. “There are nice melodies and chord changes, and I like that role of being underneath everything, with it all working off the bass, which is what Latin jazz is all about,” Heard said.

Currently, Heard also plays with saxophonists Herman Riley and John Bolivar, in an all-bass quartet called Bassmint, and in a trio with Mike Melvoin and David Basse.

In the art world, he’s carving a bust of bassist Tony Banda to be installed on the scroll of his bass.

Although Heard might like to devote full time to art, he’s happy he’s still in music. “I made the right choice,” he said.

* John Heard plays with Ray Armando on Saturday, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Chadney’s, 3000 W. Olive St., Burbank. No cover, one-drink minimum per show. (818) 843-5333.

Quick Hits

* Karen Gallinger has enough spirit and spark for two singers. Hear her Friday, 8 p.m. to midnight, at Ca’ del Sole (4100 N. Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood; no cover, no minimum; [818] 985-4669) . . .

* Phil Norman’s little big band swings heartily on Wednesday, 8 and 10 p.m., at the Moonlight (13730 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; $5 cover, $9.95 food or drink minimum; [818] 788-2000). Madeline Vergari is the inspired vocalist . . .

* Melodic-minded reedman Andy Suzuki has the spotlight at Jazz Vespers, held Sunday, 6:30 p.m., at the First Lutheran Church (1300 E. Colorado St., Glendale; free, donations accepted; [818] 240-9000) . . .

* Musicians are welcome at a jam session hosted by bassist Ethan Halpren on Sunday, 8 p.m., at Common Grounds (9250 Reseda Blvd., Northridge; no cover, $2.50 minimum; [818] 882-3666).