Sad news “Leon Breeden, the longtime director of jazz studies at the University of North Texas, who half a century ago transformed the program from a clandestine enterprise into the international Mecca for jazz training it remains today, died on Wednesday in Dallas. He was 88.” My college band got to do a concert with [Continue]

Sad news today: Louie Bellson, a jazz drummer and bandleader who combined remarkable instrumental virtuosity with far-ranging compositional skills, has died. He was 84. According to his wife Francine, Bellson died Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications of Parkinson’s disease following a broken hip in [Continue]

Lohud reports: “Rochester native Gerry Niewood, whose jazz saxophone was a familiar sound for four decades in venues ranging from the downtown Rochester Shakespeare Lounge to “Saturday Night Live,” was among the victims of Thursday night’s Continental Airlines crash. Niewood, who was 65, was on his way to Buffalo to play in [Continue]

From the BBC Pink Floyd keyboard player and founder member Richard Wright has died at the age of 65 from cancer. I always think of Pink Floyd as sort of a Miles Davis rock group (without Miles). Lots of colors, and mood to their music. Plus, they had saxophone (sometimes). I can cite two songs [Continue]

Don LaFontaine, the man who provided the sonorous voice for more than 5,000 movie trailers, died Monday at age 68. LaFontaine was known as the “king of the movie trailers,” having done the trailer voiceovers for films such as Terminator, Fatal Attraction, Cheaper by the Dozen, Batman Returns and his personal favourite, The Elephant [Continue]

This is sad, tragic news: “LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday from complications stemming from injuries he sustained in an ATV accident, the band’s publicist said.” DMB is one of the few good rock bands out there…..he is going to be hard to replace….. [Continue]

Now, this really has nothing to do with saxophone. Or Jazz. But it is well worth your time to watch. Here is a little background on Randy Pausch and his death this week from incurable pancreatic cancer. His approach to teaching is something I strive to do. [Continue]

Sad news today “US jazz tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, who played alongside such luminaries as Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey and Thelonius Monk, died Friday in France, his agent Helene Manfredi said. He was 80. Nicknamed the Little Giant, Griffin was due to perform Friday evening alongside US organist Rhoda Scott, French saxophonist Olivier [Continue]

Legendary Big Band arranger, composer, pianist, and Finale user Bob Florence died today. “From: ALEX ILES Date: May 15, 2008 6:51:24 PM CDT Subject: Bob Florence I am very sad to report the passing of pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Bob Florence. He died this afternoon after a long illness. He was a brilliant [Continue]

I’m a little late on this, probably due to not having internet during this time, but Frank Morgan passed away on December 14th. Frank Morgan, 73, a jazz saxophonist of impeccable ability, whose claim to the mantle of the celebrated Charlie Parker was clouded by his heroin addiction, died Dec. 14 at his home in [Continue]

One of the greatest pianists, Oscar Peterson, died today. I was lucky to see him once in concert. Amazing. He was probably around 75 at the time. He made it look easy. He will be missed. [Continue]

Sadly, this time around it is true. I had seen a couple of emails in various lists I subscribe to this morning, but someone finally gave me a link to the a news site that has the details. "Michael Brecker, a versatile and highly influential tenor saxophonist who won 11 Grammys over a career that [Continue]

Update: 04/03 21:15 GMT by E :The aggressive bone cancer has taken Jon Van Wie’s life. Very sad. In a follow up to this article I posted, it seems that Jon Van Wie’s condition might have taken a turn for the worst. Subject: JVW update From: wawawe@bigfoot.com Date: 9:03 PM 04/01/03 Newsgroups: alt.music.saxophone I thought [Continue]

From this article: "NEW YORK (AP) - Lionel Hampton, the vibraphone virtuoso and standout showman whose six-decade career ranked him among the greatest names in jazz history, died Saturday. He was 94." [Continue]

Yahoo News is reporting that legendary jazz bassist Ray Brown died last night in his sleep. He was just finishing up a tour. Very sad that another piece of Jazz history has died. Ray played with Charlie Parker, and others. [Continue]