Marion Brown, a saxophonist whose lyrical, low-key style made him a distinctive presence in the high-energy jazz avant-garde of the 1960s and '70s, died Monday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 79.
His death, in a hospice, was confirmed by his son, Djinji. Mr. Brown had been treated for a variety of illnesses in recent years and had been living in an assisted-living home in Hollywood, Fla.
Mr. Brown, whose main instrument was alto saxophone, was a key figure in the movement that came to be known as free jazz, an approach to improvisation that challenged conventional notions of harmony, rhythm, pitch and pretty much everything else.
His death, in a hospice, was confirmed by his son, Djinji. Mr. Brown had been treated for a variety of illnesses in recent years and had been living in an assisted-living home in Hollywood, Fla.
Mr. Brown, whose main instrument was alto saxophone, was a key figure in the movement that came to be known as free jazz, an approach to improvisation that challenged conventional notions of harmony, rhythm, pitch and pretty much everything else.
