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Obituary

Gato Barbieri (1932-2016)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 4, 2016

Gato Barbieri, a fiery tenor saxophonist born in Argentina whose music for film and albums could whip up images ranging from steamy seduction to hysterical passion, died on April 2. He was 83. Influenced by the spiritual free-jazz of John Coltrane and Coltrane's disciples in the 1960s and Sonny Rollins in the 1970s, Barbieri nearly always thought in cinematic terms. He routinely created works of open-ended abandon and desire that churned and heaved, conjuring up images of the wild. Despite ...

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Obituary

David Baker, 1931-2016

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
March 28, 2016

I am sad to learn of the death yesterday at 84 of the trombonist, cellist, composer and music educator David Baker. Baker founded Indiana University’s Jazz Studies program and taught at IU for decades. Dozens of his students went on to distinguished jazz careers. He was a trombonist with the Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson and Quincy Jones bands and then with George Russell’s quintet. Baker had to give up the instrument after his jaw was injured in a car crash. ...

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Obituary

Ernestine Anderson, 1928-2016

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
March 13, 2016

Ernestine Anderson died on Thursday at the age of 87 at a retirement home in Seattle. The singer’s career of more than six decades began in that city when she was a teenager. She went on to be featured with the big bands of Johnny Otis and Lionel Hampton, record the classic album Hot Cargo and receive Grammy nominations and rave reviews for recordings she made after a comeback in the 1970s. For an extensive account of Ms. Anderson’s life, ...

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Obituary

Paul McCartney, Lucian Grainge Pay Tribute To George Martin

Source: HypeBot
March 11, 2016

Often described as the 5th Beatle, record producer and executive George Martin left an indelible mark on modern music. Among the many tributes paid to Martin, who passed away at earlier this week, were statements from Paul McCartney and UMG CEO Lucian Grainge. Sir Paul McCartney I’m so sad to hear the news of the passing of dear George Martin. I have so many wonderful memories of this great man that will be with me forever. He was a true gentleman ...

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Obituary

George Martin (1926-2016)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
March 10, 2016

For producer George Martin, who died on March 8 at age 90, the first notes of a pop song were everything. In those early make-or-break moments, a song's success depended on its opening hook. The music had to crash out of jukebox speakers and compel teens to spend money they didn’t have on records they couldn’t live without. In August 2012, I flew over to the U.K. for the Wall Street Journal to interview Sir George at his country estate ...

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Obituary

Louis Armstrong House Mourns Passing of David Reese, Curator

Source: All About Jazz
March 1, 2016

The Louis Armstrong House Museum is deeply saddened to announce the passing of David L. Reese, Louis Armstrong House Museum curator since 2012. David Reese joined the Louis Armstrong House Museum with an impressive resume of historic preservation experience. With a Masters in Historic Architecture from the University of Virginia, David had devoted his entire career to historic sites and historic preservation. Michael Cogswell, Executive Director, recalls that “During weekends and vacations, David would typically visit other historic houses. He ...

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Obituary

George "Pepe" Grant: 1937-2016

Source: Michael Ricci
February 1, 2016

By Patricia Myers George “Pepe" Grant, 78, a memorable entertainment personality and renowned doo-wop and pop music vocalist, died January 13 following emergency heart surgery. He had resided and performed in the metro-Phoenix area since 1984, but his entertainment career began as a teenager in Philadelphia, eventually expanding to world tours. His satiny tenor voice was a standout sound in classic vocal groups since the late 1940s that included his own George Grant and The Castelles, also The ...

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Obituary

Frank Collett, RIP

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
January 27, 2016

Producer Dick Bank reports that pianist Frank Collett died of liver failure yesterday in Pasadena, California. Collett was 74. He led his own trio and in the course of his careerworked with Louis Armstrong, Zoot Sims, Shelly Manne, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Freddie Hubbard and a list of vocalists that included Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Ernestine Anderson, Helen Merrill, Jon Hendricks, Diane Reeves and Barbra Streisand. Born in Brooklyn as Frank Taglieri, his talent as a prodigy won him a ...

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