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Obituary

Cecil Payne Dies at 84

Source: All About Jazz
November 27, 2007

Cecil Payne: Dec. 14, 1922 - Nov. 27, 2007 Born in Brooklyn on December 14, 1922, Cecil Payne proved one of the bebop eras strongest baritone saxophonists; nonetheless, he has always worked in undeserved obscurity. After leaving the military service in 1946, Payne cast aside the guitar, alto, and clarinet to pick up the bari for a brief stint with Roy Eldridges Big Band. Payne soon joined the most progressive big band of the era, Dizzy Gillespies, where he made ...

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Obituary

Cees Slinger (Jazz Pianist) Dead at 77

Source: All About Jazz
September 30, 2007

The Hague (Netherlands), Sept 30 - Cees Slinger (jazz pianist) has died yesterday of heart problems at the age of 77. Cees has played with innumerable American and European jazz greats, such as: trumpet players: Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Dusko Goykovich and Benny Bailey trombonists: Slide Hampton, Al Grey, Bob Brookmeyer, Curtis Fuller, Bart van Lier, Bert Boeren, and Jimmy Knepper tenorists: Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Zoot Sims, Johnny Griffin, Sal Nistico, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, ...

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Obituary

Blues Harmonica Ace Gary Primich Passes Away September 23

Source: All About Jazz
September 24, 2007

Austin, Texas, September 24-- Gary Primich, considered by many to be one of the greatest harmonica players in the world, passed away suddenly on September 23rd. Not only is this the loss of a world-class talent, but also of a true world-class person. Offstage, Gary was a caring and gentle soul -- a real Regular Joe of the best kind. Onstage he played with a ferocity and indescribable sound that was often mind-blowing. He'd say Thank You to his fans ...

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Obituary

Jazz Drummer Specs Powell Dead of Kidney Disease at 85

Source: All About Jazz
September 20, 2007

SAN DIEGO--Jazz drummer Gordon “Specs" Powell, who recorded with Billie Holiday and played for “The Ed Sullivan Show" as part of the CBS network orchestra, has died of complications from kidney disease. He was 85. Powell, who also had heart trouble, died Saturday at a care center near his home in the northern San Diego County suburb of San Marcos, according to his son. Powell began his career doubling as a pianist, but rose to fame as a drummer during ...

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Obituary

Jazz Legend Joe Zawinul Dies at 75

Source: All About Jazz
September 11, 2007

VIENNA, Austria - Jazz legend Joe Zawinul, who soared to fame as one of the creators of jazz fusion and performed and recorded with Miles Davis, died early Tuesday, a hospital official said. He was 75. Zawinul had been hospitalized since last month. A spokeswoman for Vienna's Wilhelmina Clinic confirmed his death without giving details. Zawinul won widespread acclaim for his keyboard work on chart-topping Davis albums such as In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, and was a leading ...

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Obituary

Jazzman Joe Zawinul Died, Founder of Weather Report

Source: All About Jazz
September 11, 2007

Vienna, Sept 11 - Joe Zawinul, one of the greatest modern jazzmen, pioneer of 'fusion', the merger of his music and rock, has died of cancer at the age of 75. His son Erich announced his death. He died in a hospital in Vienna, where he was born. Composer, pianist and organist considered to be “ revolutionary", one of the first to understand the importance of the keyboard for the evolution of his genre, Zawinul has meant much for modern ...

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Obituary

Jazz Keyboard Legend Joe Zawinul Dies at 75

Source: All About Jazz
September 11, 2007

VIENNA (Reuters) - Keyboardist Joe Zawinul, who played with Miles Davis and helped shape jazz fusion with his band Weather Report, died in his native city of Vienna on Tuesday, aged 75. Zawinul, voted best keyboarder 30 times by music magazine Down Beat's critics' poll, including this year, had sought medical attention last month after a tour. He died of a rare form of skin cancer, local news agency APA reported. “Joe Zawinul was born on July 7, 1932 in ...

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Obituary

Weather Report Pianist Dies at 75

Source: All About Jazz
September 11, 2007

Austrian jazz pianist Joe Zawinul, who founded influential 1970s jazz-rock group Weather Report, has died. Zawinul, 75, passed away at his home in Vienna. Austrian media reports said he had been suffering from skin cancer. The celebrated keyboardist enjoyed his biggest hit--the Grammy-winning “Birdland"--with Weather Report in 1977. Austrian President Heinz Fischer said Zawinul's death meant the loss of a “music ambassador" who was known and cherished around the world. “As a person and through his music, Joe Zawinul will ...

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