Obituary News

Pianist David Azarian Killed in Car Accident

Source: All About Jazz
March 31, 2003

By John McElhenny, Globe Correspondent, 3/31/2003

Jazz pianist who fled the Soviet Union to pursue his musical dreams in America was killed Saturday evening when he was struck by a sport utility vehicle while changing a tire on the side of busy Interstate 93 in Stoneham.

David Azarian, 51, was replacing a driver-side tire on his minivan in the breakdown lane when the SUV, driven by a Swampscott woman, plowed into his car. Azarian's wife and two daughters, ages 4 ...

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Jazz Pianist Linton Garner, Brother of Erroll, Dead at Age 87

Source: All About Jazz
March 9, 2003

REMEMBERING LINTON GARNER

by Len Dobbin

Pianist LINTON GARNER died of heart failure Thursday, March 6, in Vancouver, B.C., where he had settled in 1974. He was 19 days short of his 88th birthday. He was born in Greensboro, N.C. on March 25, 1915 and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was the older brother of Erroll Garner and three sisters, Martha, Ruth and Berniece, were also pianists. Linton began piano lessons at the age of 8 and later also ...

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Dennis Mooreman, Pianist and Instructor at York College Dead

Source: All About Jazz
February 14, 2003

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Ruby Braff was Memoralized at Stenesky Memorial Chapel, February, 12, 2003

Source: All About Jazz
February 13, 2003

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Ruby Braff: Cornet Master with a Distinctive Voice

Source: All About Jazz
February 11, 2003

Cornet, trumpet Born: March 16, 1927 in Boston, Massachusetts Died: February 9, 2003 in North Chatham, Massachusetts

Ruby Braff began his jazz career as an out-of-time traditionalist playing with veteran jazzmen of an earlier age, and rose to establish his own standing as one of the handful of leading artists playing in traditional and mainstream idioms.

He did so on the back of one of the most beautiful instrumental sounds in jazz, a prodigious gift for ...

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Trumpeter/Cornetist Ruby Braff Dies at 75

Source: All About Jazz
February 10, 2003

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Mongo Santamaria: Cuban Percussionist Was Popular Latin Jazz Leader

Source: All About Jazz
February 8, 2003

Percussion, bandleader Born: April 7, 1922 in Havana, Cuba Died: February 1, 2003 in Miami, Florida

Mongo Santamaria enjoyed a long and successful career in Latin music. His recordings and concert performances ranged from the authentic percussion music of Afro-Cuban religious rituals through to Latin-jazz reworkings of American jazz and pop hits. His song Afro-Blue became a contemporary jazz standard, best-known in the coruscating version by saxophonist John Coltrane. His own adaptation ...

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Donald Blackman Dead at 60 (Jazz Saxaphonist)

Source: All About Jazz
February 2, 2003

Donald Blackman, jazz saxaphonist died last Tuesday on January 28th, 2003. He was creamated, and there was a quiet private service. However, a memorial is planned for him, and will be announced as soon as the information becomes available. He played with Hank Johnson Trio, and Tony Babino,vocalist on Staten Island, and many others. He will be missed by the people whose lives he touched. Cause of death was pulmonary edema (water on the lung). It was also rumored that ...

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