Although active in many different types of music as a performer, producer, and historian[2] coming out of the Philadelphia jazz scene, and in spite of local critical recognition, he did not make a large mark in his hometown.

Homegoing,[4] on the Innova Records label, is a stripped down organ combo date that took Heller back to his Philly jazz roots while featuring new compositions.

He started touring, and followed Homegoing with Fakebook (Hyena Records), another organ-based quartet release—this time concentrating on songs by favorite composers, including Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan, and Prince.

Bear Flag included nods to Bakersfield honky-tonk, vintage organ trio swinging, Curtis Mayfield, Frank Zappa, and a myriad of other influences.

He has worked with a wide array of artists, including Yma Sumac, NRBQ, Bootsy Collins, Todd Rundgren, Los Lobos, and Joe Bataan.