Today would have been the 85th birthday of Glasgow-born saxophonist Bobby Wellins (writes Seb). His unique sound is still with us; his utterly engaging character will never be forgotten. When he passed […]
John Altman writes: There was a time in the late 60s/early 70s when Malcolm Griffiths, who passed away this week aged 79, seemed to be everywhere on the world jazz scene. First […]
“John had a place at the heart of the world scene for improvised music,” writes Evan Parker in this tribute to guitarist and founder of MOPOMOSO John Russell (1954-2021), who passed away […]
Sammy Nestico (1924-2021) passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 96. Four bandleaders and arrangers pay tribute to one of the best-known (and most frequently-played) big band arrangers: Denny Ilett: […]
Pianist, composer and educator Frank Kimbrough died on 30 December at the age of 64. He was a long-time member of Maria Schneider’s Orchestra and a faculty member at Juilliard in New […]
Trombonist Toni Belenguer died on Sunday 13 September at the age of 42. The cause of his death is still unexplained. He was one of the top jazz trombonists in Spain, and […]
Bassist Gary Peacock and pianist Marc Copland played and recorded in each other’s bands for over 35 years. Marc Copland pays tribute to his close colleague, great friend and a unique musician. […]
Sebastian writes: The centenary of Charlie Parker’s birth falls today, 29 August 2020. We asked alto saxophonists two questions: first to describe thoughts and feelings which the centenary evokes. The second, optional, […]
” I feel personally blessed and grateful to have shared the stage and the road with Steve and to have counted him as a friend.” Trumpeter Damon Brown pays tribute to saxophonist […]
” I still feel the same way now as when I first heard Annie Ross 37 years ago,” writes Anita Wardell. Anita’s tribute begins and ends with excerpts of vocalese that have […]
Tim Whitehead remembers the percussionist Chris Fletcher who passed away at the age of 68 on Thursday 9 July. The thing about Chris Fletcher was he had a line for every […]
Andrew Cartmel remembers Ennio Morricone . He is gone. I can scarcely believe it. He was 91 and I guess I thought he’d live forever. There is a sequence in Cinema Paradiso […]
Sebastian writes: Trombonist and educator Patrick Kelly, who died peacefully on 11 June at the age of 88, was the founder of the Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra, later Pendulum, and a hugely […]
The Canadian trombonist, pianist and composer/bandleader Hugh Fraser has died at the age of just 61. He had been grappling with cancer over three years. Tributes that have been written in the […]
Frank Griffith writes in tribute to Lennie Niehaus: Lennie Niehaus, alto saxophonist, composer/arranger and scorer of twelve Clint Eastwood films has died at the age of 91. A consummate polymath of the […]
