Category: In Memoriam
Dom Minasi in 2017. Photo by
Peter Gannushkin.
NYC guitarist Dom Minasi has passed away at the age of 80 after an extensive illness.
Minasi was a true New Yorker. He studied music at Lehman College in the Bronx
and worked as an educator, writer, composer, and …
Peter Brötzmann. Photo (c) Cristina Marx.
The final day of our tribute to saxophonist Peter Brötzmann. See day one
here
and day two here.
Peter Brotzmann/Paal Nilssen-Love Sweetsweat (Smalltown Superjazz, 2008)
As a listener, as someone with deep love …
Peter Brötzmann. Photo by Peter GannushkinDay two of our tribute to saxophonist Peter Brötzmann. See day one here.
Peter Brötzmann, Toshinori Kondo, William Parker, Hamid Drake — Little Birds
Have Fast Hearts, No. 1 ; No. 2 (FMP, 1998 ; 1999)
These two albums, divided into six parts, were taken from performances by the…
Chick Corea, Skopje Jazz Festival 2009 ©Ziga KoritnikWe were surprised to hear about pianist and composer Chick Corea’s passing this week from a rare and only recently detected form of cancer. Over the past few months, throughout the various lockdowns, it seems as if Corea was producing online videos, conducting master classes, and keeping busy.Wh…
Bassist Gary Peacock passed away earlier this month, leaving behind a vast and varied discography. The Free Jazz Blog pays tribute to the great bassist with a selective and subjective look back on his some of the recordings that made their impressions personally and musically.
Albert Ayler Trio – Spiritual Unity (ESP-Disk, 1965)
By Nick Metzger
…
Gary Peacock, photo by Roberto Masotti.Bassist Gary Peacock passed away on Friday, September 4th at age 85. Peacock’s work in free jazz goes back to nearly to the genre’s beginning with his work in saxophonist Albert Ayler’s groups, recording the highly influential Ghosts (Debut, 1964), Prophecy (ESP-Disk, 1964), New York Eye and Ear Control (ESP-D…
Eric Stern introducing at Eric’s House of Improv
We are sad to report that Eric Stern, 54, a contributor to the blog, passed away earlier this month. Eric had been dealing with serious health issues for a number of years, but did not let it damper his enthusiasm for live (and recorded) music. Over the past year or so, Eric had been organizing “E…
We were surprised to learn about the sudden passing of poet Steve Dalachinsky early Monday morning. Steve was a omnipresent figure on the Downtown Music scene, a fan of the music, and one of those ever rarer true New Yorkers. At a show in Brooklyn this summer, he told me “Ahh, I like Berlin, I only have one enemy there. Here in New York, I have lot…
Part II of a tribute to Polish Trumpeter Tomasz Stańko. See part I here.
Tomasz Stańko – Bluish (Power Bros, 1991)
By Colin Green
On Bluish, Tomasz Stańko is joined by Arild Andersen (acoustic and electric bass) and
Jon Christensen (drums), a Norwegian rhythm section that is so much more.
On this album Stańko’s playing has all…
Earlier this week, legendary Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stańko passed away (learn more here). This weekend on the Free Jazz Blog we pay tribute to his work with a selective and wholly subjective dive into his discography.
Krzysztof Komeda Quintet – Astigmatic (Polskie Nagrania Muza, 1966)
By Colin Green
Recorded in Warsaw in December 1965 b…
Our tribute to Cecil Taylor, who passed away on April 5th, through his discography continues.
On Cecil Taylor Segments II (Orchestra of Two Continents)—Winged Serpent (Sliding Quadrants) (Soul Note, 1985)
Winged Serpent (Sliding Quadrants)
is one of the central moments in my education in free jazz and
improvised music. I was born in E…
The passing of pianist Paul Bleyis a tough way start to the New Year, especially coming after the loss of Ornette Colemanthis past summer. Fortunately, Bley leaves behind a massive and masterful discography. As a tribute, we present some of our favorites:
Paul Bley Quintet–Barrage (ESP Disk, 1965)
Recorded in 1964, shortly after the histori…
