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Obituary

Jazz violinist Billy Bang dead at 63

Source: Michael Ricci
April 12, 2011

One of Rochester's favorite musicians, jazz violinist Billy Bang, has died at the age of 63. Over the past decade Bang appeared many times in Rochester, including a collaboration with Garth Fagan Dance. A favorite at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Bang was scheduled to play on the first day of the 2011 festival (running June 10-18). It would have been his fourth festival appearance. “Billy was extremely well liked in Rochester and had an exceptionally loyal following," says ...

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Obituary

A Celebration of Ron Hudson

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene
April 11, 2011

Monday, April 11—Jazz Alley 2033 6th Avenue, Seattle Time: 7:00pm (Program starts at 7:30pm) Vocalist and author Katy Bourne published a nice piece on Ron Hudson that we'd like to share: The Seattle jazz community lost a dear friend with the recent death of photographer Ron Hudson. For over three decades, Ron photographed some of the greatest artists in jazz history. With a keen eye and a fierce passion for the music, Ron captured intimate moments from hundreds of jazz ...

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Obituary

R.I.P. Pinetop Perkins

Source: JamBase
March 23, 2011

JULY 7, 1913-MARCH 21, 2011 Legendary bluesman Pinetop Perkins passed away yesterday at his home in Austin, TX. He was 97 years old. A highly influential piano man, Perkins played with luminaries like Earl Hooker and Sam Philips before spending more than a decade playing with Muddy Waters. In 1980, he left to form The Legendary Blues Band with Willie “Big Eyes" Smith. Perkins also released several highly regarded solo albums, including 1988's After Hours, and 1998's Sweet Black Angel. ...

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Obituary

Singer's Sister Killed in Crossfire

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
March 19, 2011

Patrice Thimes, the sister of St. Louis jazz singer Denise Thimes, was shot and killed Thursday night in St. Louis. Police reports say that Thimes was driving through the intersection of Page Ave. and North Euclid at 9:55 p.m. when she was hit by a stray bullet from a gun battle between two groups of young men thought to be gang members. The Post-Dispatch's story is here, and local NBC affiliate KSDK has a report that includes a brief interview ...

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Obituary

Melvin Sparks - R.I.P.

Source: Sound Insights by Doug Payne
March 17, 2011

Guitarist Melvin Sparks, a soul-jazz legend and acid-jazz pioneer, died yesterday at his Mt. Vernon, New York, home from heart failure. He would have turned 65 next week. Reports indicate he died from complications associated with diabetes. Sparks made his name in the late '60s and early '70s as a soulful guitarist—or “gittar" player, as he called himself—accompanying Jack McDuff, Lonnie Smith, Lou Donaldson, Charles Earland, Jimmy McGriff and countless other soul-jazz stars. “But for the last two decades," wrote ...

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Obituary

R.I.P. Melvin Sparks

Source: JamBase
March 17, 2011

ACID JAZZ GREAT PASSES AWAY AT 64 Legendary Soul/Jazz/Funk guitarist Melvin Sparks died yesterday due to complications from diabetes. He was 64 years old. Sparks was noted for his pioneering Acid Jazz guitar style in the 60s and 70s, influencing generations of musicians in his wake, including Galactic, The Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Derek Trucks, Robert Randolph, Eric Krasno and more. In addition to his groundbreaking work as a bandleader, Melvin was a prolific session player for labels ...

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Obituary

Melvin Sparks (1946-2011)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
March 16, 2011

Melvin Sparks, a much-in-demand soul-jazz guitarist who recorded with virtually all of the great organists of the late '60s and '70s and pioneered a sound that borrowed from Grant Green and Sly Stone, died on March 13 . He was 64. Sparks was at his best playing a muscular, groovy rhythm guitar behind organists like Leon Spencer and Charles Earland, breaking out occasionally with a melodic, groovy solo. He was a mainstay at Prestige during the '70s, where he was ...

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Obituary

Joe Morello, Springfield Native and Jazz Drummer (1928-2011)

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts
March 15, 2011

Joe Morello, drummer for the Dave Brubeck Quartet, died at his home in New Jersey on Saturday at age 82. A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Morello was sight-impaired as a child and studied the violin, performing at age nine with Boston Symphony Orchestra as a soloist in the Mendelsohn Violin Concerto, according to his biography. He switched to the drums at age 15. Brubeck released a statement, saying: “Drummers worldwide remember Joe as one of the greatest drummers we have ...

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