Obituary News

Jazz Vibist, Ray Alexander Dead From Complications of Surgery

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz Vibist Ray Alexander died on Saturday, June 8th, 2002 at 7:05 A.M. after suffering from complications of surgery. There also will be a memorial event at Five Towns College on July 21, 2002 at 1:00P.M. to 6:00P.M. where he taught music. Five Towns College is located on Long Island, New York. Photo and tribute to Ray Alexander also has been posted on the website of “Jazzbone Records" http://www.jazzbonerecords.com A link also to Ray's website is also provided where you ...

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Shirley Scott: Leading Lady of Soul Jazz

Source: All About Jazz

Shirley Scott was a leading figure in one of the most popular of all jazz movements, the off-shoot of hard bop known as soul jazz. The style was led by Hammond organ players like Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff, and although her initial ambition was to succeed on piano, Scott established her reputation on the Hammond B3 alongside these titans. She developed her own distinctive approach to the instrument. Despite her slight build, she was a ...

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Cuban Jazz Pioneer Dead at 90

Source: All About Jazz

According to several official Cuban news organizations, Armando Romeu died on March 11, of a heart attack. He was 90 years old and one of the Jazz pioneers of the world.

This saxophonist, teacher, composer, arranger and band leader, born July 17, 1911, was involved with seminal groups until becoming Director of the Tropicana orchestra in 1942. As early as 1926, he was playing Jazz with North American groups in Cuba, eventually doing so with his own group throughout South ...

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Shirley Scott, 67, a Philadelphia native and "Queen of the Organ"

Source: All About Jazz

Shirley Scott, 67, the Philadelphia-born “Queen of the Organ" known for her crisp sense of swing, died Sunday at Presbyterian Medical Center after a long battle with heart disease.

Though she spent decades as one of the most visible and beloved members of the Philadelphia jazz community, Ms. Scott, who lived in West Chester, made headlines most recently as a litigant.

In February 2000, she won an $8 million settlement against American Home Products, manufacturers of the now-banned diet drug ...

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Daniel Pearl-the jazz musician

Source: All About Jazz

DANIEL WAS A PEARL

Yes, Daniel Pearl was a gem of a person. A real gentleman and probably the sweetest soul on earth. I met Daniel for the first time at 'Soul Fry' a restaurant in Mumbai where i played with my jazz ensemble. This lone gentleman seated on a barstool stood out from the crowd in the house that evening. Daniel was listening to us with childlike awe. I knew he was a musician. I spoke to him in ...

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Nick Brignola: Gifted Specialist on the Baritone Saxophone

Source: All About Jazz

If the conventional history of jazz is dominated by a series of major innovators who have dictated the sweeping changes in style which have brought the music to its present point, there has been an equally important sub-strata of musicians who have contented themselves with taking those styles as a given, and refining and developing them throughout their careers.

The American saxophonist Nick Brignola is one such player. His chosen field was bop, and his preferred instrument the baritone saxophone. ...

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Baritone Saxophonist Nick Brignola Succumbs to Cancer

Source: All About Jazz

Baritone sax great Nick Brignola died at the Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY on Feb. 8, 2002 after a long battle with cancer.

Mainly self-taught, he studied music at Ithaca College and Berklee School of Music in the mid 1950s. His greatest baritone influence was Harry Carney of The Duke Ellington band who became his mentor.

He played with guitarist Sal Salvador and Woody Herman in the early 60s and recorded with Woody in 1964. He also had a ten ...

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Peggy Lee: Cool and Sultry Star of Jazz and Pop

Source: All About Jazz

Peggy Lee was best known for her massive hits with ‘Fever’ and ‘Is That All There Is?’, which won her a Grammy award in 1969. Her cool, sultry vocal style lent itself equally well to both pop and jazz settings, and she said in interviews over the years that she considered herself to be an interpreter of songs rather than a jazz singer. She emerged to wide notice with the Benny Goodman Big Band in 1941, ...

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