2022 In Memoriam

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Herb Snitzer (November 1932 - December 31st, 2022)  The photographer published a memoir in 2011, Glorious Days and Nights (co-written with Dan Morgenstern), about his 50-year career, which included being photo and associate editor of jazz magazine Metronome and having his images grace releases by Nina Simone, Charles Mingus, Freddie Redd, Art Blakey, Milt Jackson, Joe Morello, Eric Dolphy, Chet Baker, Tadd Dameron, Booker Little, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Jimmy Giuffre and many others. Snitzer died December 31st at 90. 

Gretchen Carhartt Valade (August 27th, 1925 - December 30th, 2022) The scion of the Michigan clothing company Carhartt was a lifelong jazz champion, founding Mack Avenue Record in 1999 (with numerous albums by Detroit jazz players in its catalogue), rescuing the Detroit Jazz Festival from financial uncertainty in 2005 and then expanding it (while keeping it free) over the ensuing decades, opening the Dirty Dog Jazz Café in 2008 and, most recently, donating $9.5 million to Wayne State University for the establishment of the Gretchen Valade Jazz Center. Valade died December 30th at 97.

Bob Ackerman (1940 - December 27th, 2022) The saxophonist released albums on January Sound, DAAGNIM, Blackhawk, Silkheart, M Records, MSR Jazz and other labels, recorded with Dennis Gonzalez, Henry Franklin, Joey DeFrancessco, Herb Robertson and Fred Taylor and was a noted dealer of vintage saxophones and mouthpieces. Ackerman died December 27th at 82.

Harry Sheppard (April 1st, 1928 - December 27th, 2022) The vibraphonist was active mainly in the '50-80s, recording with Sol Yaged, Micky Sheen, Chubby Jackson, Stan Rubin, Mike Bryan, Coleman Hawkins and Benny Goodman and releasing albums for Evidence, Justice and Master Disc. Sheppard died December 27th at 94.

Mack Goldsbury (September 29, 1946 - December 26, 2022) The tenor/soprano saxophonist was active since the ‘70s on two continents with albums for Muse, Timescraper, TUTU, Jazztown, Konnex, Interfuse, Cadence Jazz, Fortuna and Bella Musica and recordings credits with Charles Earland, Laurie Altman, Jim Shannon, Tim Berne, Derwyn Holder, Charlie Elgart, Herb Robertson, Hendrik Meurkens, Rich Szabo, Della Griffin, Ed Schuller, Maciej Fortuna and others. Goldsbury died December 26th at 76.

James "Jabbo" Ware (November 16th, 1942 - December 26th, 2022) The baritone saxophonist was the "Me" in the The Me We & Them Orchestra, active since the '90s and with a couple of releases on Soul Note and Y'All New York, as well as having credits with Archie Shepp, Pat Patrick Charles Greenlee and others. Ware died December 26th at 80.

Eddie Taylor (February 12th, 1929 - December 20th, 2022) The British drummer came up in the ’50s wth Tommy Whittle, Kenny Baker, Dill Jones, Wally Fawkes, Cleo Laine and Kenny Graham, had two long spells with Humphrey Lyttelton in the ’50-60s and then again in the new millennium, and also had credits with Johnny Dankworth, Johnny Barnes, George Melly and others. Taylor died December 20th at 93. 

Dan Patiris (November 12th, 1930 - December 19th, 2022) The reedplayer worked with Woody Herman, Virgil Gonsalves (whose band backed visiting players at The Black Hawk), Stan Kenton Reunion Band, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Manhattan Transfer, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson and Nat King Cole in the ‘60s in San Francisco and had a long second career in New York playing Broadway pit orchestras. Patiris died December 19th at 92.

Detlef Schönenberg (May 6th, 1944 - December 17th, 2022) The German drummer made a solo album in 1974, a drum duet with Michael Jüllich in 1979 and several duo albums with trombonist/bassist Günter Christmann in the ‘70s to go along with credits under Rüdiger Carl and Jazzensemble Des Hessischen Rundfunks. Schönenberg died December 17th at 78.

Ruslan Khain (1972 - December 14th, 2022) The Russian bassist released two albums, both in 2008, for Smalls Records and Jazzing Music, and was a longtime member of the bands of countryman trumpeter Valery Ponomarev. Khain died December 14th at 50.

Mark Feldman (October 9th, 1940 - December 6th, 2022) Concurrent with a decades-long career as a gastroenterologist, the producer had credits in the '80s for Uptown Records (founded by fellow doctor Robert E. Sunenblick), with releases by Hod O'Brien, Philly Joe Jones, Frank Wess, Barry Harris and others, before going on to found Reservoir Records in 1987, active through 2011 with nearly 100 albums from O'Brien, Helio Alves, Dick Berk, Nick Brignola, John Fedchock, Steve Kuhn, Peter Leitch, Pete Malinverni, Valery Ponomarev, Gary Smulyan and more. Feldman died December 6th at 82.

Pam Tompkins (October 29th, 1950 - December 5th, 2022) The violinist had credits with Don Ellis, Harvey Mason, Frank Sinatra and NPG Orchestra among her funk, disco and New Age work. Tompkins died December 5th at 72. 

Alvin Walker (May 21st, 1971 - December 5th, 2022) The trombonist was a two-decade veteran of the Count Basie Band, appearing on albums for MCG Jazz, Concord, MAMA and Eighty-Eights and supporting such guests as New York Voices, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Charles and Tony Bennett, in addition to working with Hector Martignon, Valery Ponomarev and others. Walker died December 5th at 51.

Jean-Paul Amouroux (1943 - December 4th, 2022) The French pianist devoted himself to the primordial boogie-woogie style for over 20 albums since the '80s on Elyon, Média 7, Jazztrade, Adda, Black and Blue, Honky Tonk and other labels, whether as a leader or in collaboration with Memphis Slim, Sammy Price, Willie Mabon, Milt Buckner, Jay McShann and Jean-Pierre Bertrand. Amouroux died December 4th at 79.

Jack van Poll (November 29th, 1934 - December 4th, 2022) The Dutch pianist was active since the ‘50s, mostly leading his Tree-Oh, releasing albums on his own VPS or for Decca, Munich and then, after relocating to Belgium, where he founded the September jazz club in Antwerp in the '70s, his own September imprint from the '80s onward (which also put out dates by Dee Daniels, Joe Lovano, Jean Toussaint, Philip Catherine, Barry Harris, Hein Van De Geyn/Lee Konitz, Mark Murphy, Martin Wind, Filippo Bianchini and others) alongside credits with Jan Verwey, Piet Noordijk and more. Van Poll died December 4th at 88.

Bobby Naughton (June 25th, 1944 - December 3rd, 2022) The vibraphonist was a key figure in the avant garde scene of '70s-80s Connecticut and beyond, often documented on his OTIC imprint (active from 1969-81 and revived in the new millennium) with players like Mario Pavone, Mark Whitecage, Laurence Cook, Perry Robinson, Randy Kaye, pre-Wadada Leo Smith, James Emery, Cleve Pozar and others, co-founded  the Creative Improvisors Orchestra and had credits with Smith, Pavone, Roscoe Mitchell and Anthony Braxton. Naughton died December 3rd at 78.

Louise Tobin (November 11th, 1918 - November 26th, 2022) The singer worked with the orchestras of Benny Goodman, Buddy Hackett, Tommy Jones, Will Bradley and Ziggy Elman starting in the late ‘30s then, in the ‘70s-80, with Peanuts Hucko. Tobin died November 26th at 104.

Joel Press (1930 - November 23rd, 2022) The saxophonist/clarinetist was a stalwart in his adopted base of Boston from the ‘70s to the late Aughts, composed frequently for dance and returned home to New York in 2009, performing regularly at Smalls and releasing a handful of albums for Cadence Jazz. Press died November 23rd at 92.

John Pochée (September 21st, 1940 - November 10th, 2022) The Australian drummer worked with Bernie McGann, Judy Bailey, Stan Tracey/Don Weller, Susan Gai Dowling, Elliott Dalgleish and others. Pochée died November 10th at 82.

Johnny Almendra (February 13th, 1952 - November 21st, 2022) The Nuyorican timbale player and percussionist had credits with Mongo Santamaria, Dave Valentin, Charlie Sepulveda, Giovanni Hildalgo, Don Byron, McCoy Tyner, John Scofield, Gregor Huebner and others alongside a pair of leader dates for RMM Records. Almendra died on November 21st at 70.

David Ornette Cherry (1958 - November 20th, 2022) The composer and keyboard player (and son of Don Cherry, working with his father since his teens and appearing on his 1990 album Multikulti) released dates on Elephant Tonga, Cherry Extract Music and Spiritmuse. Cherry died November 20th at 64. 

Rudi Wilfer (September 14th, 1936 - November 18th, 2022) The Austrian pianist was active since the ‘60s, working with Aladar Pegé, Charly Antolini and Erich Kleinschuster and leading or co-leading dates for RST and Gramolo. Wilfer died November 18th at 86. 

Mick Goodrick (June 9th, 1945 - November 16th, 2022) While the guitarist had a healthy discography as a leader/collaborator since the ‘70s for ECM, ITI, CMP, New Sound Planet, RCA, RAM, Material and other labels and sideman credits with Woody Herman, Gary Burton, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden/Carla Bley, Harvie S, Jim Hall, Carlo Mombelli, Laszlo Gardony, Claudio Fasoli, Steve Swallow, Hal Crook, Jerry Bergonzi, Greg Hopkins, Bruno Råberg and more, his lasting impact is perhaps his decades of pedagogy at Berklee College of Music, where his students included John Scofield, Mike Stern, Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, Lage Lund and many others. Goodrick died November 16th at 77. 

Gene Cipriano (July 13th, 1928 - November 12th, 2022) The prolific Los-Angeles-based session musician had hundreds of pop, TV and film credits but also plenty of jazz work with Pete Rugolo, Henry Mancini, Dave Pell, Pete Candoli, Louie Bellson, Buddy Collette, Cal Tjader, Stan Kenton, Jean-Luc Ponty, Dennis Coffey, Nancy Wilson, Alice Coltrane, Toshiyuki Honda, Clare Fischer and others. Cipriano died November 12th at 94.

Michael G. Nastos (April 4th, 1952 - November 9th, 2022) The jazz radio DJ and critic was a fixture on NPR affiliate WEMU since the ‘70s and wrote for AllMusicGuide, DownBeat, Hot House and other outlets. Nastos died November 9th at 70. 

Gerd Dudek (September 28th, 1938 - November 3rd, 2022) The German saxophonist was among the most significant figures in the nascent European avant garde of the ‘60s onward, working with Manfred Schoof, as a constant participant in Alexander von Schlippenbach’s Globe Unity Orchestra, Peter Brötzmann, Wolfgang Dauner, German All Stars, Kühns Joachim and Rolf, Albert Mangelsdorff, Loek Dikker, European Jazz Trio, Quintet and Ensemble, Third Eye, The Quartet, Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Misha Mengelberg and many others and releasing his own or collaborative albums since the early ‘70s on Trio, FMP, Konnex, Psi, Laika, Shaa-Music and Planet Jazz Cologne. Dudek died Nov. 3rd at 84. 

Anthony Ortega (June 7th, 1928 - October 30th, 2022) The saxophonist/clarinetist/flutist was active since the early ‘50s, working with Lionel Hampton, Clifford Brown, Gigi Gryce, Sonny Stitt, Billy Taylor, Johnny Hartman, Nat Pierce, Herbie Mann, Dinah Washington, Maynard Ferguson, Wingy Manone, Gerald Wilson, Richard “Groove” Holmes, Blue Mitchell, Jean-Luc Ponty, Lalo Schifrin, Mike Wofford, Quincy Jones, Frank Zappa and others and had leader dates for Herald, Coral, Bethlehem, Jazzz, Discovery, Evidence, hatOLOGY and other labels. Ortega died October 30th at 94. 

Terry Shannon (November 5th, 1929 - October 29th, 2022) The British pianist was a staple of London’s jazz scene in the ‘50-60s, playing with Vic Ash, Jimmy Deuchar, Ronnie Scott, Victor Feldman, Dizzy Reece, The Jazz Couriers, Tubby Hayes, Wilton Gaynair and Harold McNair as well as visiting Americans like Sonny Stitt and Zoot Sims as part of the Ronnie Scott’s house band. Shannon died October 29th at 92. 

Terry Woodson (December 19th, 1941 - October 19th, 2022) The trombonist spent 19 years as the conductor for Frank Sinatra, Jr. and produced albums for Diane Schuur and Diana Krall but got his start as a member of the Don Ellis Orchestra in the ‘60s. Woodson died October 19th at 81. 

Paul Weinstein (1932 - October 11th, 2022) The jazz advocate founded the Heavenly Jazz and Jazz at Six concert series at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, was a trustee of The Jazz Gallery and helped establish the New School’s The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Weinstein died October 11th at 90. 

Brooks Arthur (1936 - October 9th, 2022) The producer and engineer (né Arnold Bordsky), after starting his career as a singer and songwriter and decades before his work with pop, rock, vocal and novelty acts, spearheaded two jazz/classica/easy-listening hybrid albums for Verve under the moniker Brooks Arthur Ensemble, which featured such jazz players Jimmy Buffington, Richard Davis, Grady Tate, Wayne Andre, Eddie Bert, Jerry Dodgion, Romeo Penque, Sam Brown and others. Arthur died October 9th at 86.

Chuck Deardorf (April 3rd, 1954 - October 9th, 2022) The bassist and husband to vocalist Kelly Harland had a pair of leader dates for Origin in the 2010s, long associations with Don Lanphere, Bud Shank and Jovino Santos Neto and sideman credits with Tom Collier, Barney McClure, Pete Christlieb, Larry Coryell, Richie Cole, Randy Brecker, Hadley Caliman and others. Deardorf died October 9th at 68.

Ronnie Cuber (December 25th, 1941 - October 7th, 2022) The baritone saxophonist was one of the giants of his instrument from his earliest work as part of the Newport Youth Band and early credits with Maynard Ferguson, Slide Hampton and George Benson to his own dates for Xanadu, Electric Bird, Fresh Sound, Milestone, Timeless, SteepleChase, ProJazz and other labels and sideman work under Lonnie Smith, Eddie Palmieri, Idris Muhammad, Grant Green, Lee Konitz, Joe Farrell, Lalo Schifrin, Dom Um Romao, Frank Zappa, Mickey Tucker, Sam Noto, Thijs Van Leer, Chris Hinze, Xanadu All-Stars, Hank Crawford, Sadao Watanabe, Tony Williams, Eric Gale, Willie Colón, Terumasa Hino, Rein De Graaff, Ralph MacDonald, Sam Jones, Charles Mingus, Mark Murphy, Nick Brignola, Roland Hanna, Marvin Stamm, Steve Gadd, Roland Vazquez, Jim Hall, Richard Tee, Horace Silver, Mingus Big Band, Bobby Broom, Dave Valentin, Conrad Herwig and others plus myriad credits in the pop, rock and Latin worlds and a three-year membership in the Saturday Night Live band. Cuber died October 7th at 80.

Fred Catero (February 4th, 1933 - October 6th, 2022) Among the engineer’s many pop and rock credits were sessions by Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi and Headhunters bands, Les McCann, Eddie Henderson, Alphonse Mouzon, Miroslav Vitous, V.S.O.P., Gato Barbieri, Tony Williams, Richie Cole, Mal Waldron and John Abercrombie and John Scofield. Catero died October 6th at 89.

Janet Thurlow (May 21st, 1926 - October 4th, 2022) The vocalist (and wife of trombonist Jimmy Cleveland) had recording credits with Lionel Hampton on MGM and Charles Mingus on his Debut in the ‘50s. Thurlow died October 4th at 96.

Béla Szakcsi Lakatos (July 8th, 1943 - October 2nd, 2022) The Hungarian pianist released albums on GRP, Krém, Creative Art Ensemble, Hungaroton and Budapest Music Center Records, worked with countrymen Aladár Pege, Tommy Vig, George Jinda and Attila Zoller and was a member of Saturnus, Special EFX and Hungarian Jazz Quartet. Szakcsi Lakatos died October 2nd at 79. 

Alfredo Remus (November 9th, 1938 - September 28th, 2022) The Argentine bassist put out several records as a leader since the ‘60s on Ten, Discos Redondel, Parlophone‎, Melopea Discos, Doble F Producciones and MDR Records to go along with credits under Horacio "Chivo" Borraro, Eduardo Lagos, Enrique Villegas, Jorge Calandrelli, Roberto Lar, Lalo Schifrin, Rodolfo Alchourron, Angel "Pocho" Gatti, Andrés Boiarsky, Karlheinz Miklin and others. Remus died September 28th at 83. 

Kelly Sill (March 2nd, 1952 - September 28th, 2022) The bassist worked with Akio Sasajima, Frank Mantooth, John Allred, Eddie Jefferson, Mike Jones, Bob Lark, Brad Goode, Brian Gephart and Jack Mouse and co-led a couple of releases in the 2000s. Sill died September 28th at 70.

Roz Corral (June 7th, 1947 - September 27th, 2022) The singer released a new millennium album on Blu Jazz and was a valued member of New York City’s jazz scene, booking the vocal series at North Square Lounge for many years. Corral died September 27th at 74.

Henry "Pucho" Brown (November 1st, 1938 - September 21st, 2022) The percussionist led his Latin Soul Brothers band from the late ‘50s until the early ‘70s and then again in the ‘90s into the new millennium, with albums on Prestige, Milestone and other labels. Brown died September 21st at 83.

Charlie Devore (January 4th, 1933 - September 24th, 2022) The trumpeter/clarinetist was a member of the Hall Brothers Jazz Band from the ‘60s-80s, later joined Norrie Cox and His New Orleans Stompers and often worked alongside fellow Hall Brothers alumnus Butch Thompson on albums for the G.H.B. family of labels and Stomp Off. Devore died September 24th at 89.

Sue Mingus (April 2nd, 1930 - September 24th, 2022) The widow of bassist Charles Mingus was tireless in keeping alive his legacy and music, whether through the establishment of repertory band like the Mingus Big Band, Orchestra and Dynasty, producing the premiere performance of Epitaph in 1989, releasing albums like Music Written for Monterey, 1965, creating the Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition or writing the memoir Tonight at Noon: A Love Story. Mingus died September 24th at 92.

Pharoah Sanders  (October 13th, 1940 - September 24, 2022) The saxophonist (né Farrell) was a crucial force in The New Thing in ‘60s New York, beginning with his 1964 eponymous debut for ESP-Disk’, followed by two seminal dates in 1965, Ornette Coleman’s Chappaqua Suite (Columbia) and John Coltrane’s Ascension (Impulse!). The latter would be the start of a highly fruitful period with Coltrane and such albums as Om (Impulse!, 1965) Kulu Sé Mama (Impulse!, 1965), Live In Japan (Impulse!, 1966), Expression (Impulse!, 1967) and The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording (Impulse!, 1967). He worked as a leader for Impulse! on nearly a dozen albums from 1966-73 (with a date for Strata-East in there as well). Later he would work with Alice Coltrane, The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra, Gary Bartz, Hilton Ruiz, Elvin Jones/McCoy Tyner, Art Davis, Randy Weston, Sonny Sharrock, Kenny Garrett, Tisziji Muñoz, Franklin Kiermyer, Wallace Roney, Alex Blake, Kahil El’Zabar, David Murray, Chicago Underground, Joey DeFrancesco and others, all while continuing to release albums for India Navigation, Arista, Theresa, Timeless, Doctor Jazz, Meta, Verve, Venus, Evolver and other labels. Sanders died September 24th at 81.

Joel Kaye (August 20th, 1940 - September 18th, 2022) The multi-instrumentalist led three iterations of his Neophonic Orchestra—in New York, then Denver and, finally, Madison—from 1973 well into the new millennium after coming up in the ‘60s bands of Stan Kenton and then having credits under Johnny Richards, Bob Wilber and Quincy Jones. Kaye died September 18th at 82.

Eric Jackson (January 31st, 1950 - September 17, 2022) The radio host, known as the “Dean of Boston Jazz Radio”, began his long tenure with WGBH in 1977 first with “Essays in Black Music”, then “Eric in the Evening” and finally “Jazz on WGBH with Eric Jackson”. Jackson died September 17th at 72.

Marty Sheller (March 15th, 1940 - September 17th, 2022) The trumpeter was in Mongo Santamaria’s bands in the ‘60s-70s and also worked with Sabu Martinez, Dave Pike, Luis Gasca, Giovanni Hidalgo and others and was an arranger for Santamaria, George Benson, Jon Faddis, Arturo O’Farrill and more. Sheller died September 17th at 82.

Ralph "Yohuru" Williams (September 25th, 1946 - September 17th, 2022) The percussionist had credits with Don Elliott and Alan Braufman and was a member of the Creative Music Improvisers Forum in New Haven (founded by Wadada Leo Smith, Bobby Naughton, Dwight Andrews, Wes Brown and Gerry Hemingway), appearing on the 1981 album The Sky Cries The Blues. Williams died September 17th at 75. 

Dick Vennik (June 4th, 1940 - September 16th, 2022) The Dutch saxophonist had a long partnership with compatriot pianist Rein De Graaff (their band releasing albums for BASF, Universe Productions and Timeless) along with membership in Free Fair, tenure in the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra and credits under Klaus Weiss, Nedley Elstak, Rob Agerbeek, Jimmy Knepper and others. Vennik died September 16th at 82.

Giuseppe Pino (1940 - September 13th, 2022) The Italian photographer had his images used in albums since the late ‘60s for Polydor, BYG-Actuel, Atlantic, Verve, Embryo, Flying Dutchman, Columbia, PM, Enja, Arista, ECM, Black Saint, Milestone, MPS, Fantasy, CBS, India Navigation, Novus, Blue Note, Baybridge, Antilles, Musica Jazz, Freedom, Pablo, Dreyfus, Splasc(h), GRP and other labels. Pino died September 13th at 82.

Aquiles Báez (March 1st, 1964 - September 12th, 2022) The Venezuelan guitarist had credits with Omar Acosta, Brenda Figgalo, Danilo Pérez, Paquito D’Rivera, Giora Feidman, Richard Bona, Luisito Quintero, Juancho Herrera and several leader dates for Latin World Entertainment Group and Guataca. Báez died September 12th at 58.

Ramsey Lewis (May 27th, 1935 - September 12th, 2022) The pianist won a 1965 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance - Small Group or Soloist with Small Group for “The ‘In’ Crowd”, his first of three wins, the accolade coming about a decade after he debuted as a leader for Argo, beginning a long stretch for that label (and continuing when it was rebranded as Cadet), followed by prolific tenures with Chess, Columbia, GRP and Narada Jazz, part of a discography that also saw early sideman work with Jimmy Woode, Max Roach and Bill Henderson and guest spots with Grover Washington, Jr., Frank Mantooth, GRP All-Star Big Band and Monty Alexander. Lewis died September 12th at 87.

Trevor Tomkins (May 12th, 1941 - September 9th, 2022) The British drummer had credits with Don Rendell/Ian Carr, Michael Garrick, Guy Warren, Julie Driscoll, Blossom Dearie, Nucleus, Tony Coe, Mike Westbrook, Barbara Thompson, Neil Ardley, George Chisholm, John Horler, Howard Riley/Art Themen, Graham Collier and others. Tomkins died September 9th at 81. 

Ken Hitchcock (??? - August 31st, 2022) The saxophonist/flutist got his break working with Charles Mingus’ final bands, followed that with big band gigs under Gerry Mulligan, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Dave Stahl, Lew Anderson, Michael Treni, and others, was a member of the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra and New York Saxophone Quartet and released a 2011 album with his singer wife Sue Halloran. Hitchcock died August 31st at 66.

Lou Caputo (September 8th, 1947 - August 29th, 2022) The saxophonist/flutist recorded with Ray Rivera, Carol Sudhalter, Ronnie Whyte and Harry Connick, Jr, worked with Candido, Bobby Sanabria, Duke Jordan, Jaki Byard, Walter Perkins, Richie Cole and others, was a member of the Glenn Miller ghost band and released three albums, two with his long-running Not So Big Band. Caputo died August 29th at 74.

Joey DeFrancesco (April 10th, 1971 - August 25th, 2022) The organ player (also pianist, trumpeter and singer) came from a music family (father John was also an organ player), worked with Grover Washington, Jr., Miles Davis, Houston Person, Jack McDuff, John McLaughlin, Ronnie Cuber, Dave Stryker, Paul Bollenback, Didier Lockwood, Jimmy Bruno, Randy Johnston, Ximo Tebar, Andy Summers, Doug Raney, Poncho Sanchez, Tony Monaco, Pat Martino, Mort Weiss, Janis Siegel, Joe Beck, Ron Blake, Terry Gibbs, Kenny Burrell, Cory Weeds, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Christian McBride and others and led dates for Columbia, HighNote, Concord, and Mack Avenue. DeFrancesco died August 25th at 51.

Creed Taylor (May 13th, 1929 - August 23rd, 2022) The producer was a polarizing figure in jazz history, getting his start in the ‘50s with albums for Bethlehem and ABC-Paramount, then founding Impulse! in 1961 (though he left the next year, ceding responsibility to Bob Thiele), a label that would help define jazz in the decade, following that with a move to Verve and then somewhat tarnishing his legacy with the establishment in 1967 of CTI, known for highly overproduced, often string-heavy sessions by the likes of Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Hubert Laws, and many others, but also to be lauded for an emphasis on bossa nova. Taylor died August 23rd at 93.

Jaimie Branch (June 17th, 1983 - August 22nd, 2022) The trumpeter was at the vanguard of modern jazz (as well as injecting much-needed politicization), first in Chicago and then New York, over the past decade-plus with her Fly or Die band and Anteloper duo, both of which released three albums on International Anthem, and in collaborations with Keefe Jackson, Jason Ajemian, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Frank Rosaly, James Brandon Lewis, Chris Welcome, Ig Henneman, Anne La Berge, Mars Williams, Dave Gisler, Rob Mazurek, Dave Rempis, Anteloper partner Jason Nazary and others. Branch died August 22nd at 39.

Fredy Studer (June 16th, 1948 - August 22nd, 2022) The Swiss drummer was a founding member of OM, which had albums since the ‘70s on India, JAPO and Intakt (with its latest release coming out in 2022), had leader or collaborative albums (including several by a trio with Hans Koch and Martin Schütz) on JAPO, ECM, Plainisphare, veraBra, Intakt, Unit, For 4 Ears, FMR, Double Moon and Everest and credits under Pierre Favre, Charlie Mariano, André Jaume, Rémi Charmasson, Peter Schärli, Robyn Schulkowsky and others. Studer died August 22nd at 74.

Michael Bourne (1946 - August 21st, 2022) The radio personality was a fixture on WBGO from 1984 until his retirement in 2022, hosting the "Singers Unlimited" broadcast, as well as writing for DownBeat and penning liner notes Audiophile, Blue Note, Bluebird, Chesky, Concord, Criss Cross, EmArcy, Enja, Evidence, Jazz Focus, Justin Time, Milestone, Muse, MusicMasters, Novus, Palo Alto, Sunnyside, TCB and Verve. Bourne died August 21st at 75.

Monette Sudler (June 5th, 1952 - August 21st, 2022) The guitarist came up in her native Philadelphia, working with Sounds of Liberation, Khan Jamal and Sunny Murray in the ‘70s, had later credits with Jamal, Arnett Verdell and the Change of the century Orchestra and several leader dates, mostly for SteepleChase. Sudler died August 21st at 70.

Warren Bernhardt (November 13th, 1938 - August 19th, 2022) The pianist came up in the ‘60s bands of Paul Winter, worked with Gerry Mulligan, Astrud Gilberto, Don Sebesky, Mike Mainieri and Jeremy Steig in that decade and later Pat Martino, Jack DeJohnette, Jon Faddis, Art Farmer, Teo Macero, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Kazumi Watanabe, Gato Barbieri, Chuck Loeb and others to go along with leader dates since the ‘70s on Arista Novus, DMP, his own BGS and other labels. Bernhardt died August 19th at 83.

Rolf Kühn (September 29th, 1929 - August 18th, 2022) The German saxophonist/ clarinetist (and older brother to pianist Joachim) was one of his native country’s major figures for seven decades, releasing albums on Brunswick, Urania, Vanguard, Harmonic, BASF, MPS, L+R, Blue Flame, Intuition and other labels, had collaborative dates with his brother on CBS, Impulse! (first in 1967 with Impressions of New York and then in 2011 with Lifeline), SABA, BYG, Hörzu, BASF, In+Out and Jazzwerkstatt and sideman credits with his brother, Eddie Costa, Tommy Dorsey, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Urbie Green, Horst Jankowski, Friedrich Gulda, Klaus Doldinger, German All-Stars, Eartha Kitt, Connie Bauer and others. Kühn died August 18th at 92.

Butch Thompson (November 28th, 1943 - August 14th, 2022) The pianist, while best known for his work on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, had a long career in traditional jazz, making albums for Jazette, Jazzology, CSA, Center, Stomp Off, Daring, Triangle, Red House, G.H.B. and other labels alongside work with The Hall Brothers, Dakota Dave Hull, Ken Colyer, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Louis Nelson, Doc Cheatham and many more. Thompson died August 14th at 79.

Bill Pittman (February 12th, 1920 - August 11th, 2022) The guitarist, known as a member of the Wrecking Crew session musician group, had recording credits with Buddy Rich, Jeri Southern, Red Callender, Louie Bellson, Mel Tormé, Plas Johnson, Barney Kessel, Peggy Lee, Ray Charles, Shelly Manne, Howard Roberts and Lena Horne and others. Pittman died August 11th at 102.

Ray Carless (1954 - August 10th, 2022) The British saxophonist was a key figure in his country’s funk and jazz scenes, founding The Jazz Warriors (which featured future stars Courtney Pine, Jason Yarde,Mark Mondesir and others), was a part of Chris McGregor’s late-period Brotherhood of Breath, recorded with Najma and released albums under his own name for Night Owl and Trio. Carless died August 10th at 68.

Abdul Wadud (April 10th, 1947 - August 10th, 2022) The cellist (né Ronald DeVaughn) came up in the Cleveland avant garde scene as part of the Black Unity Trio, had long affiliations with Julius Hemphill, Arthur Blythe, James Newton and Anthony Davis, credits with Frank Lowe, George Lewis, Charles “Bobo” Shaw, Leroy Jenkins, Oliver Lake, Muhal Richard Abrams, David Murray and Marty Ehrlich and a single 1977 leader date. Wadud died August 10th at 75.

Della Griffin (June 12th, 1922 - August 9th, 2022) The vocalist (who also worked as a drummer, saxophonist and pianist) had a handful of albums, a late ‘70s debut on Dobre followed by new millennium releases on Muse and Savant, plus credits under Etta Jones and Houston Person. Griffin died August 9th at 99.

Mike Lang (December 10th, 1941 - August 5th, 2022) The pianist had a voluminous discography as a sideman with Paul Horn, Don Ellis, Tom Scott, Steve Allen, Frank Zappa, John Klemmer, Boots Randolph, Sergio Mendes, Bud Shank, Quincy Jones, Peggy Lee, Marlena Shaw, Laurindo Almeida, Lalo Schifrin, Milt Jackson, Stan Getz, Herb Alpert, Michael Henderson, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Pepper, Conte and Pete Candoli, David Benoit, Toots Thielemans, Arturo Sandoval, Tierney Sutton, Lorraine Feather and others plus hundreds of credits in the pop world and on movie soundtracks. Lang died August 5th at 80.

Howard Stone (??? - August 3rd, 2022) The producer co-founded the Vail Jazz Festival (as the Vail Jazz Party) in 1995 and the Vail Jazz Foundation in 1996, the latter emphasizing jazz education for young players. Stone died August 3rd at 79 in the midst of the 28th edition.

Billy Kaye (1932 - July 28th, 2022) The drummer worked with Illinois Jacquet, Lou Donaldson, Stanley Turrentine, Wilbert Longmire, George Benson, Hank Crawford, Thelonious Monk, Sun Ra, Eddie Jefferson, Nellie McKay, Federico Bonifazi and others. Kaye died July 28th at 90.

Tony Lujan (1956 - July 27th, 2022) The trumpeter had albums on Capri and Bella and credits with Bill Holman, Luis Bonilla, Jim Morris, the Garcia Brothers, Gerald Wilson, Phil Ranelin, Brian Lynch, Eddie Palmieri, Clark Terry and others. Lujan died July 27th at ~66.

Jan Bebel (March 13th, 1953 - July 26th, 2022) The Polish photographer had his work in albums released by Edition Collage, Polonia, Gowi, Mercury, Taso Music Production, Polskie Radio, Not Two and For Tune. Bebel died July 26th at 69.

Sy Johnson (April 15th, 1930 - July 26th, 2022) The pianist had mid ‘60s credits as part of the Rod Levitt Orchestra but is better known as an arranger, especially with Charles Mingus on the albums Let My Children Hear Music, Mingus Moves and Changes One & Two and, after the bassist’s death, the Mingus Dynasty album Chair In The Sky and Dannie Richmond’s Mingus tribute band, as well as Toshiyuki Miyama, Larry Elgart, Lee Konitz and others. Johnson died July 26th at 92 of complications from COVID-19.

Guillo Carias (1936 - July 21st, 2022) The Dominican multi-instrumentalist was active since the ‘60s, leading groups like Sus Charangueros, 4+1 and The Dominican Jazz Project. Carias died July 21st at 86.

Terry Harrington (July 27th, 1938 - July 20th, 2022) While perhaps most heard as the player behind TV’s Lisa Simpson, the reed player was an active studio player with jazz credits under Blue Mitchell, Herb Alpert, Alice Coltrane, Johnny Hammond, Norman Connors, Pharoah Sanders, Gary Urwin, Alf Clausen, Pete Christlieb, Dave Grusin and others. Harrington died July 20th at 83.

Michael Henderson (July 7th, 1951 - July 19th, 2022) The bassist was a triple threat: a player amassing credits with Miles Davis (notably early ‘70s recordings like Live-Evil, Jack Johnson, On The Corner and Black Beauty and then, later in the decade, Agharta and Pangaea), Gary Bartz, Norman Connors, Reggie Lucas; a leader with several mid ‘70s-early ‘80s releases for Buddah; and a songwriter/producer for numerous pop, rock and soul acts. Henderson died July 19th at 71.

Vincent DeRosa (October 5th, 1920 - July 18th, 2022) The French horn player had the most recording credits on his instrument in a career that started in the ‘40s with Harry James, continued with Pete Rugolo and Marty Paich and included dates with Red Callender, Shelly Manne, Carmen McRae, Paul Horn, Lennie Niehaus, Stan Kenton, Art Pepper, Ella Fitzgerald, Cal Tjader, Bill Holman, Neal Hefti, Clare Fischer, Sarah Vaughan, Horace Silver, Oliver Nelson, Chuck Mangione, Sonny Criss, Pharoah Sanders, Les McCann, Stanley Clarke, Sammy Nestico, Freddie Hubbard, Louie Bellson, Doc Severinsen, Miles Davis, Arturo Sandoval and many others. DeRosa died July 18th at 101.

Murray Wall (September 28, 1945 - July 18, 2022) The Australian bassist had credits since the ’70s with Tony Gould, Cyrus Chestnut, Marty Grosz, Walt Levinsky, Ken Peplowski, Peter Ecklund, Joe Helleny, Warren Vaché, Joe Puma, Chuck Wilson, Dwayne Clemons, Greg Ruggiero and others. Wall died July 18th at 74.

Herbert Noord (July 26th, 1943 - July 13th, 2022) The Dutch keyboard player was part of Soulbrass Inc. in the late ‘60s, which had a single album, Live At The Bohemia Jazzclub (Stichting Jazz Werkgroep), and had releases since the late ‘70s on Cat, Timeless, Affinity, Shuttle Music, Limetree and Blue Room. Noord died July 13th at 79.

Thom Mason (October 10th, 1941 - July 10th, 2022) The saxophonist had a couple of albums for Affinity in the ‘80s to go along with credits under Roberto Miranda, Paul Cacia and Pat Longo but is best known for founding the University of Southern California’s Thornton Jazz Studies department in 1982. Mason died July 10th at 80.

Barbara Thompson (July 27th, 1944 - July 9th, 2022) The saxophonist/flutist was a rare female instrumentalist in Britain’s jazz scene, appearing on albums by Howard Riley, Keef Hartley, New Jazz Orchestra, Michael Gibbs, Colosseum (co-led by her drummer husband Jon Hiseman), Neil Ardley, Don Rendall, United Jazz+Rock Ensemble, Volker Kriegel and others while leading her band Paraphernalia for albums on MCA, veraBra and Intuition. Thompson died July 19th at 77.

Jörg Becker (July 8th, 1950 - July 5th, 2022) The German photographer’s work from the late ‘60s well into the new millennium was found in releases from MPS, MJQK, ECM, ACT Music, Finetone, Jazzhaus, Birth and other labels. Becker died July 5th at 71.

Sonny Burke (1945 - July 4th, 2022) The keyboard player was active since the early ‘70s with George Freeman, Robin Kenyatta, Stanley Turrentine, Sonny Criss, Johnny Hammond, John Handy, Nancy Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Blue Mitchell, Stan Getz, Narada Michael Walden and Norman Connors, plus dozens of pop, rock and soul artists. Burke died July 4th at ~77.

Clarence Becton (Decenber 16th, 1933 - June 24th, 2022) The drummer is the question to the Jeopardy answer: “He played drums on the first ECM release.” Along with that 1969 Mal Waldron album, Free At Last, Becton, based in Europe for decades, recorded with Don Menza, Dusko Goykovich, Hadley Caliman, Michael White, Burton Greene, Arnold Klos, Gijs Hendriks, Joe Malinga, Benny Bailey, Armando Cairo and others. Becton died June 24th at 88.

Reggie Andrews (January 2nd, 1948 - June 23rd, 2022) Later known as a pop songwriter and arranger, the pianist had a soul-jazz release as a leader in 1969, credits with Willie Bobo, guest spots with his former student Patrice Rushen and production credits with Bobo, Rushen and Donald Byrd. Andrews died June 23rd at 74.

Eddie De Haas (February 21st, 1930 - June 22nd, 2022) The Indonesian bassist (father to singer Darius De Haas) got his start in Europe, working with Mezz Mezzrow, Henri Renaud, Pia Beck and others, then moved Chicago, where his credits included Kai Winding, Bill Coleman, Chet Baker, Chris Connor, Roy Haynes, Al Haig, Dexter Gordon, Warne Marsh, Tom Saunders, Eddie Johnson, Von Freeman, Jodie Christian, Louis Smith and others. De Haas died June 22nd at 92.

Artie Kane (April 14th, 1929 - June 21st, 2022) The pianist and organ player recorded with Bud Shank, Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, Lalo Schifrin, Michel Legrand and others and had a handful of leader dates for RCA in the ‘70s. Kane died June 21st at 92. 

Donny Suhendra (November 9th, 1960 - June 19th, 2022) The Indonesian guitarist was a founding member of the jazz-fusion band Krakatau, later co-founded Java Jazz and released one album under his own name in 2009. Suhendra died June 19th at 62.

Matthias Winckelmann (April 7th, 1941 - June 19th, 2022) The German producer co-founded Enja Records in 1971 with Horst Weber, the label starting—as ECM had two years earlier—with a Mal Waldron trio date and going on to release over 700 albums to the present day from the likes of Rez Abbasi, Franco Ambrosetti, Ray Anderson, Carlos Bica, Bob Degen, Marty Ehrlich, Tommy Flanagan, David Friedman, Hal Galper, Dusko Goykovich, Eddie Harris, Mark Helias, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ingrid Jensen, Elvin Jones, Lee Konitz, Cecil McBee, Albert Mangelsdorff, Charlie Mariano, David Murray, Angelika Niescier, Bobby Previte, Akira Sakata, John Scofield, John Stubblefield, Aki Takase, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Archie Shepp, Bennie Wallace, Nils Wogram, Attila Zoller and many others. Winckelmann died June 19th at 81.

Gabe Baltazar (November 1st, 1929 - June 12th, 2022) The Hawaii-born saxophonist was part of Stan Kenton’s early ‘60s bands and also worked with Oliver Nelson, Gil Fuller, Johnny Hartman, Nat King Cole, Paul Togawa and others to go along with a couple of albums in the ‘70s (one “Presented by” Kenton) and then several more in the ‘90s for V.S.O.P., Fresh Sound and other labels. Baltazar died June 12th at 92.

Roman Bunka (December 2nd, 1951 - June 12th, 2022) The German guitarist and oud player made a handful of records under his own name, which were in the world music vein, but got his start as part of Christian Burchard’s jazz-rock band Embryo (later joining its world-beat offshoot Dissidenten), which led to collaborations with Jimmy Jackson and Charlie Mariano. Bunka died June 12th at 70.

Meghan Stabile (July 26th, 1982 - June 12th, 2022) The up-and-coming producer founded Revive Da Live in 2005, presenting concerts first in Boston then New York, and had her efforts bringing jazz to younger, hipper audiences documented on the 2015 Blue Note album Revive Music Presents: Supreme Sonacy Vol. 1. Stabile died June 12th at 39.

Jean Bémer (1933 - June 9th, 2022) Scion of a music-store owning family, the proprietor of Bémer-Musique founded the Cat 4 Club in his hometown of Lorraine, a venue hosting both French stars like Michel Portal and Martial Solal but also visitors such as Keith Jarrett, Clark Terry and Phil Woods. Bémer died June 9th at 89.

Wolfgang Reisinger (July 16th, 1955 - June 8th, 2022) The Austrian drummer was a longtime member of the Vienna Art Orchestra, appearing on over a dozen of its recordings from 1979-89, later had credits with Franz Hautzinger, Max Nagl, Franz Koglmann, Michel Godard, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Joachim Kühn, Steve Lacy, Reform Art Unit, Georg Gräwe and Agustí Fernández and released his own albums for Extraplatte and EmArcy. Reisinger died June 8th at 67.

Józef Gawrych (September 26th, 1938 - June 6th, 2022) The Polish percussionist and vibraphonist was active since the ‘60s, working with Polish Radio Dance Orchestra, Krzysztof Komeda, Janusz Zabiegliński, Novi Singers, Grupa Organowa Krzysztofa Sadowskiego, Marianna Wróblewska, Jan Fryderyk Dobrowolski, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski and other compatriots. Gawrych died June 6th at 84.

Susanne Schapowalow (January 29th, 1922 - June 6th, 2022) The German photographer provided images for hundreds of albums since the mid ‘50s for labels like Columbia, RCA, Atlantic, EmArcy, Brunswick, MGM, MPS, Deutsche Grammophon, Moosicus, Jazzhaus, Sonorama and others. Schapowalow died June 6th at 100.

Grachan Moncur III (June 3rd, 1937 - June 3rd, 2022) The trombonist (son a bassist who worked with the Savoy Sultans, Billie Holiday, Bud Freeman and others) was a compelling, if infrequent, leader and valued collaborator from the early ‘60s into the ‘10s. His first big gig was touring with Ray Charles then the Art Farmer-Benny Golson Jazztet in 1962. The next year established Moncur’s relationship with Blue Note Records: sessions with Herbie Hancock and McLean and his leader debut Evolution (with McLean in the band), followed the next year by Some Other Stuff. Later in the decade Moncur would continue to work with McLean, have credits with Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter and form strong partnerships with Archie Shepp and Marion Brown. Moncur was part of the wave of Black jazz musicians who decamped for Paris in 1969 and made records for labels like BYG-Actuel; Moncur’s next two releases were for the former: New Africa (with Shepp) and Aco Dei De Madrugada (One Morning I Waked Up Very Early); he also played on period sessions by Shepp, Clifford Thornton, Dave Burrell, Sunny Murray and Alan Silva. Back in the States in the ‘70s, he led a couple more dates: 1974’s Echoes of Prayer with The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra (JCOA) and 1977’s Shadows (Denon) and was also part of Beaver Harris’ 360° Music Experience. The next two decades saw just a few sessions with Cassandra Wilson, Frank Lowe, Paris Reunion Band and William Parker. In the new millennium he made two final albums as a leader: Exploration, a 2004 octet session released by Capri, and Inner Cry Blues, a 2007 sextet date out on Lunar Module. Moncur was also an accomplished composer, “Frankenstein”, “Sonny’s Back”, “The Coaster” and “Blues for Donald Duck” recorded by the Jazztet, McLean, Shepp, Burrell, Wilson, André Jaume, Ken McIntyre, Kevin Mahogany, Khan Jamal and others. Moncur died June 3rd at 85.

Charles Eubanks (July 26th, 1948 - June 2nd, 2022) The pianist was part of an extended famed jazz family (cousin guitarist Kevin and trombonist Robin and trumpeter Duane, late brother bassist David, late uncle pianist Ray Bryant), releasing a pair of CIMP albums in the new millennium to go along with sideman work with Wendell Harrison, Contemporary Jazz Quintet, Rashied Ali, Archie Shepp, Dewey Redman, Butch Morris, Luther Thomas, Oliver Lake, Sonny Fortune and more. Eubanks died June 2nd at 73.

Leroy Williams (February 3rd, 1941 - June 1st, 2022) The drummer was active since the late ‘60s, working with Roni Ben-Hur, Al Cohn, Junior Cook, Bill Hardman, Barry Harris, Andrew Hill, Charles McPherson, Pete Malinverni, John Patton, Jimmy Raney, Sonny Stitt, Warren Vaché and more. Williams died June 1st at 80.

Juan José Mosalini (November 29th, 1943 - May 27th, 2022) The France-based Argentinean bandoneón player had his own or shared releases since the ‘70s on Hexagone, Eigelstein Musikproduktion, Label Bleu, Indigo, Shanachie and other labels and collaborations with Patrice Caratini, 1984 World Music Meeting Ensemble, Tony Coe, Stockholm Jazz Orchestra and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Mosalini died May 27th at 78.

Jean-Louis Chautemps (August 6th, 1931 - May 25th, 2022) The French saxophonist came up in the ‘50s with Henri Renaud, worked with Lucky Thompson, Kurt Edelhagen, Chet Baker, Daniel Humair, Martial Solal, Jef Gilson, Nathan Davis, Raymond Fol, Colette Magny, Claude Bolling, François Jeanneau and others and had a handful of leader or co-led releases. Chautemps died May 25th at 90.

Vernell Brown, Jr. (August 13th, 1971 - May 23rd, 2022) The pianist released his first albums as a leader for A&M on either side of his 20th birthday and went on to work with Gladys Knight and Ronnie Laws and was a longtime member of Kenny Garrett’s bands. Brown, Jr. died May 23rd at 50.

Bernard Wright (November 16th, 1963 - May 19th, 2022) Though the keyboard player is better known for his own funk albums and work with artists ranging from Doug E. Fresh to Chaka Khan, he did have credits since the ‘80s with Harvey Mason, Michał Urbaniak, Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Stanley Jordan, Charnett Moffett, Lenny White, Marcus Miller, Sadao Watanabe, Roy Hargrove, Snarky Puppy and others. Wright died May 19th at 58.

Paul Plimley (March 16th, 1953 - May 18th, 2022) The Canadian pianist’s first credits were with Walter Zuber Armstrong, Bob Bell, New Orchestra Quintet and Paul Cram, then albums for his own label, Nine Winds, Music & Arts, hatART, Les Disques Victo, Songlines, Intakt and others and work with Cecil Taylor, NOW Orchestra, Dennis González, Barry Guy, Lisle Ellis, Andrew Cyrille, Henry Kaiser, Glenn Spearman, Günter Christmann and more. Plimley died May 18th at 69.

Eli Fountain (July 13th, 1958 - May 17th, 2022) The percussionist/vibraphonist was a member of Max Roach’s M’Boom ensemble and the Ebony Brass Quintet and also worked with Charli Persip, Butch Morris, Warren Smith, Geri Allen, Sam Rivers, Terence Blanchard, Thurman Barker, James Carter, Lene Horne and others. Fountain died May 17th at 64.

Bob Barnard (November 24th, 1933 - May 7th, 2022) The Australian trumpeter was active since the ‘50s, getting his start with his older drummer brother Len’s groups, then working with Graeme Bell, John Sangster, Jack Lesberg, Dave Dallwitz, Nancy Stuart and others to go along with leader dates for Axis, Swaggie, ATA, ABC, Dialoque, Calligraph, Opus 3, La Brava and Sackville. Barnard died May 7th at 88.

Victor Schonfield (December 19th, 1940 - May 3rd, 2022) The British jazz promoter organized numerous concerts starting in 1968 with his Music Now series, which included performances by AMM, Music Improvisation Company, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Amalgam, Christian Wolff, Musica Elettronica Viva and Sun Ra Arkestra, produced records for Transatlantic and Cadillac and wrote liner notes for albums on Arista-Freedom, Black Lion, Deram, Emanem, FMP, Fontana and Matchless. Schonfield died May 3rd at 81.

Allen Blairman (August 13th, 1940 - April 29th, 2022) The drummer, long a resident of Germany, was part of the Charles Bell Contemporary Jazz Quintet in the early ‘60s, then made his name in Europe with credits under Albert Ayler (the legendary Nuits De La Fondation Maeght concert), Albert Mangelsdorff, Karl Berger, Joe Haider, Mal Waldron, Biréli Lagrène and others, as part of bands like Opening and Trio Variety and two new millennium releases for Rodenstein. Blairman died April 29th at 81.

Gene Santoro (October 31st, 1950 - April 27th, 2022) The author wrote several books, most notably Myself When I Am Real: The Life and Music of Charles Mingus, and contributed pieces to The Daily News, The Nation, The Atlantic, DownBeat, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Spin and The Village Voice and wrote liner notes for historical albums by Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, Jeff Beck, Larry Coryell and Stanley Turrentine and new releases from Ivo Perelman, Mingus Big Band, Mark Dresser and others. Santoro died April 27th at 71.

Klaus Schulze (August 4th, 1947 - April 26th, 2022) The composer and keyboard player (initially a drummer with various electronic bands in his native Germany) released dozens of albums on Ambient World, Brain, Cosmic Music, Inteam GmbH, MIG, PDU, Rainhorse, Revisited, Synthetic Symphony, Venture, Мирумир and other labels and was a founding member of Stomu Yamashta’s Go in the ‘70s. Schulze died April 26th at 74.

Roberto Masotti (1947 - April 25th, 2022) The Italian photographer’s images could be found on releases by Amadeus, Ampersand, Bla Bla, Cramps, Dischi Della Quercia, Elektra, EMI, Emanem, Enja, FMP, Ictus, Improvising Artists, Incus, Intakt, Leo, Musica Jazz, NoBusiness, Nonesuch, PDU, Red, Ring, Saravah, Setola Di Maiale, Splasc(H), WATT, Wergo, We Insist!, a/l/l and, most prolifically, ECM with nearly 200 albums. Masotti died April 25th at 75.

Adelhard Roidinger (November 28th, 1941 - April 22nd, 2022) The Austrian bassist had several leader or co-led releases since the ‘70s and worked with Hans Koller, Akira Sakata, New Jazz Ensemble, Karin Krog, Yosuke Yamashita, Heinz Sauer, Urs Leimgruber and the European Jazz Ensemble. Roidinger died April 22nd at 80.

Michael J. Smith (August 13th, 1938 - April 10th, 2022) The pianist had albums on Storyville, Red, Saravah, Le Chant Du Monde, PolJazz, Improvising Artists Inc., Horo, FMP, Muza, Day Eight Music and Creative Composers Recordings and credits with Anthony Braxton, Steve Lacy, Noah Howard and Jonas Hellborg. Smith died April 10th at 83.

John Barnes (May 15th, 1932 - April 18th, 2022) The English saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist came up with the trad-jazz band Zenith Six in 1955 and went on to a long association with Alex Welsh and then Humphrey Lyttelton as well as working with visiting Americans like Bud Freeman, Earl Hines, Will Bill Davison, Ruby Braff, Pee Wee Russell and others and releasing a handful of albums for Gold Star, Cadillac, Calligraph, Black Lion and Lake. Barnes died April 18th at 89.

José Luis Cortés (October 5th, 1951 - April 18th, 2022) The Cuban flutist was best known as part of Irakere in the ‘80s-90s as well as founding The New Generation Cuban All Stars, NG La Banda and Todos Estrellas, those groups releasing albums on El Inspector De La Salsa, Caribe Productions, O.K., Promusic and Bis, and working with Chucho Valdés, David Murray, Pedrito Calvon, José Miguel Crego and others. Cortés died April 18th at 70.

Charnett Moffett (Jun. 10th, 1967 - April 11th, 2022) The bassist first recorded as a child alongside his many musical siblings in the band of his drummer father Charles and, by the ‘80s, was one of the most-in-demand players of his generation, with credits under Donald Brown, Ornette Coleman, Kennys Drew, Jr. and Garrett, Kevin Eubanks, Stanley Jordan, Branford, Delfeayo and Wynton Marsalis, Mulgrew Miller, Courtney Pine, Wallace Roney, David Sanchéz, Sonny Sharrock, McCoy Tyner and Tony Williams, over two dozen albums both as part of the Manhattan Jazz Quintet and under his own name, most recently for Motéma Music. Moffett died April 11th at 54.

Donald Smith (September 4th, 1943 - April 9th, 2022) The pianist (and younger brother of Lonnie Liston Smith) was active from the late ‘60s well into the new millennium, recording one album as a leader in 1976 for Whynot and appearing on albums by his brother, Hamiet Bluiett, Lester Bowie, Tulivu Donna Cumberbatch, Andrew Cyrille, Craig Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Dick Griffin, Oliver Lake, Saheb Sarbib, Leon Thomas, James "Jabbo" Ware, Salim Washington and others. Smith died April 9th at 78. 

Dave Usher (c.1930 - April 7th, 2022) Before a second career cleaning up massive oil spills, the producer worked for Argo Records on albums by Ramsey Lewis, Zoot Sims, Max Roach, Marian McPartland, The Jazz Exponents, James Moody, Ahmad Jamal, Cy Touff, Red Rodney and others. Usher died April 7th at 92. 

Tina May (March 30th, 1961 - March 26th, 2022) The British vocalist had nearly two dozen albums since the ‘90s on 33 Records, Doz, Spotlite, Hep Jazz and ASC, both as a leader and in collaboration with Tony Coe, Nikki Isles, Dylan Fowler, Enrico Pieranunzi and others, and credits with Pendulum, Frank Griffith and Ray Guntrip. May died March 26th at 60. 

Giorgio Buratti (May 21st, 1935 - March 21st, 2022) The Italian bassist came up in the '60s alongside Gil Cuppini, Sergio Fanni, Maurizio Lama and other compatriots and led albums for Bentler, Durium (most notably A Smooth Day, a 1970 session with Charles Mingus sidemen), Vedette and Ducale. Buratti died Mar. 21st at 86.

Barbara Morrison (September 10th, 1949 - March 16th, 2022) The vocalist got her start singing as a child in her native Michigan, went on to work with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson in the ‘70s, had a long stint working with Johnny Otis in the ‘70s-90s, was part of the Philip Morris Superband in 1986 and released nearly a dozen albums since the ‘80s on Esoteric, P.C.H., Mons, Chartmakers, Blue Lady, J&T, Springboard, Dakota Live, Capri and Savant, the latter yielding three collaborative dates with Houston Person. Morrison died March 16th at 72.

Dennis González (August 15th, 1954 - March 15th, 2022) The trumpeter, a key figure in the Dallas avant garde jazz scene with his founding of Dallas Association for Avant-Garde and Neo Impressionistic Music, the associated label of which released his albums as well as those of Henry Franklin, Prince Lasha, Tina Marsh and others, also had dates for Konnex, 8th Harmonic Breakdown, Qbico, Clean Feed and Ayler and credits with Lasha, Marsh, Charles Brackeen, Alvin Fielder, Faruq Z. Bey and others and two musician sons, bassist Aaron and drummer Stefan, who were members of his Yells At Eels band. González died March 15th at 68.

Jessica Williams (March 17th, 1948 - March 10, 2022) The pianist was a prolific recording artist since the ‘70s, with over 50 albums for Adelphi, Black Hawk, Candid, Clean Cuts, Concord, Hep Jazz, Jazz Focus, MAXJAZZ, Origin, Red and Blue and Timeless. Williams died March 10th at 73. 

Ron Miles (May 9th, 1963 - March 8th, 2022) The trumpeter/cornet player was active since the ‘80s, releasing albums on Endemic, Capri, Gramavision, Sterling Circle, Enja-Yellowbird, Sound American and most recently Blue Note (2019’s Rainbow Sign) to go along with credits under 3ology, Myriam Alter, Ginger Baker, Matt Chamberlain, Bruce Cockburn, Elvis Costello, Bill Frisell, Ben Goldberg, Joe Gunther, Harriet Tubman, Joe Henry, Fred Hess, Wayne Horvitz, Chie Imaizumi, Jazz Worms, Art Lande, Myra Melford, Jason Moran, Mark Nodwell, Joshua Redman, Brandon Ross, Charles Rumback, Jenny Scheinman, Jason Steele, Kim Stone, Colin Stranahan, Michael Vlatkovich, Whirlpool, Matt Wilson, Nate Wooley and others. Miles died March 8th at 58.

Isao Suzuki (January 2nd, 1933 - March 8th, 2022) The Japanese bassist came up in the ‘60s, working with the collective group Ace 7, Sadao Watanabe, Hampton Hawes, George Kawaguchi, Mal Waldron, Terumasa Hino, Motohiko Hino, Fumio Karashima, Kunhiko Sugano, Noriko Miyamoto, Masahiko Togashi, Red Mitchell, Fumiko Suzuki and others, had many albums on Three Blind Mice, East Wind, Flying Disk, Yupiteru, Paddle Wheel, Trio, Atlantic, Art Union, Off Note and King and was briefly a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1970. Suzuki died March 8th at 89.

Zbigniew Jaremko (May 27th, 1946 - March 2nd, 2022) The Polish tenor/soprano saxophonist and clarinetist had a single album as a leader, 1982-86’s Dedications (PolJazz), to go along with leading the Jazz Carriers, membership in the Stodoła Big-Band and Sun Ship and credits under Sandy Brown, Ptaszyn Wróblewski, Wojciech Kamiński, Jarosław Śmietana and others. Jaremko died March 2nd at 75.

Conrad Janis (February 11th, 1928 - March 1st, 2022) Before and during his rise to fame in the theater and on numerous TV shows, most notably as the father on Mork & Mindy, the actor played Dixieland trombone, leading several albums in the ‘50s for Circle, Jubilee and Riverside and continuing to perform into the new millennium. Janis died March 1st at 94.

Derf Reklaw (January 11th, 1947 - February 24th, 2022) The percussionist was part of the soul/jazz/funk group The Pharaohs and had credits under Phil Upchurch, Ramsey Lewis, Eddie Harris, Noel Pointer, Dwight Trible, Phil Ranelin and others plus a leader date for Ubiquity. Reklaw died February 24th at 75. 

Carlos Barbosa-Lima (December 17th, 1944 - February 23rd, 2022) The Brazilian guitarist worked in jazz, classical and Latin settings, releasing albums since the ‘60s for Chantecler, ABC, Philips Concord, Khaeon and ZoHo, and was a member of the Washington Guitar Quintet. Barbosa-Lima died February 23rd at 77.

Maffy Falay (August 30th, 1930 - February 22nd, 2022) The Turkish-born, Sweden-based trumpeter was best known for his tenure in the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, membership in the band Sevda alongside countryman Okay Temiz and Swedes Björn Alke and Gunnar Bergsten and credits with Bernt Rosengren, Gunnar Lindqvist, George Russell, Lars Gullin, Arne Domnérus and Don Cherry. Falay died February 22nd at 92.

Ernie Andrews (December 25th, 1927 - February 21st, 2022) The singer had numerous albums since the ‘50s on GNP, Capitol, Discovery, Concord, Contemporary, Muse and HighNote and credits with Cannonball Adderley, Kenny Burrell, Frank Capp and others. Andrews died February 21st at 94

Nils Lindberg (Jun. 11th, 1933 - February 20th, 2022) The Swedish pianist had dozens of albums since the ‘60s, for Columbia, Barben, Swedish Society Discofil, RCA Victor, Bluebell Of Sweden, Phono Suecia and Proprius and worked with Benny Bailey, Lars Gullin, Karin Krog and others. Lindberg died February 20th at 88.

Charles Gatt (August 1944 - February 19th, 2022) The Maltese drummer, after study at Berklee School of Music and decades of performing, founded the Malta Jazz Festival in 1991, serving as its Artistic Director until 2009. Gatt died February 19th at 77.

Khalid Moss (Dececember 18th, 1946 - February 18th, 2022) The pianist had a handful of recording credits with Rusty Bryant, Richard Groove Holmes, Pharoah Sanders, Betty Carter and Phyllis Hyman from the ‘70s-90s. Moss died February 18th at 75.

Betty Davis (July 26th, 1945 - February 9th, 2022) The singer was briefly married to trumpeter Miles Davis from 1968-70 and had a major role in his move into electric fusion (and was on the cover of and fêted within Davis’ 1968 album Filles de Kilimanjaro) along with a handful of ‘70s albums on Just Sunshine, Island, P-Vine and Sundazed. Davis died February 9th at 76.

Zbigniew Namysłowski (September 9th, 1939 - February 7th, 2022) The Polish alto saxophonist/flutist was one of his country’s most revered jazz players since the ‘60s, releasing dozens of albums for Polskie Nagrania Muza, Decca, SABA, PolJazz, JG, Vinyl, CBS, Polonia, Koch Jazz and Jazz Forum and working alongside countrymen Krzysztof Komeda, Michał Urbaniak, Jarosław Śmietana and others. Namysłowski died February 7th at 82.

Elvira “Vi” Redd (September 20th, 1928 - February 6th, 2022) The saxophonist had a pair of early ‘60s albums on United Artists and Atco, a shared concert recording from 1977 with Marian McPartland, Mary Osborne, Lynn Milano and Dottie Dodgion and credits with Al Grey, Count Basie, Howard McGhee and others. Redd died February 6th at 93.

Mickey Bass (May 2nd, 1943 - February 3rd, 2022) The aptly-named bassist led a couple of sessions in the early ‘80s to go along with a 1972-73 stint in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and sessions under Curtis Fuller, Reuben Wilson, Jimmy McGriff, Lee Morgan, Philly Joe Jones and Hank Mobley. Bass died February 3rd at 78.

Oleg Molokojedov (April 20th, 1947 - February 3rd, 2022) The Lithuanian/Russian pianist/trumpeter was part of the bands of Vladimir Chekasin, founded the Vilnius Jazz Quartet, had albums on Zona, BMK, Pūkas and Kukū and edited the Russian magazine Jazz for its three issues. Molokojedov died February 3rd at 74.

Joe Diorio (August 6th, 1936 - February 2nd, 2022) The guitarist came up in the early ‘60s with Eddie Harris and later worked with Sonny Stitt, Ira Sullivan, the Candoli brothers, Monty Budwig, Horace Silver, Anita O’Day and others to go along with leader or co-led dates for Spitball, Timeless, Nocturne, RAM and other labels. Diorio died February 2nd at 85.

Richard Hadlock (September 27th, 1927 - February 2nd, 2022) The clarinetist was part of trad-jazz ensembles since the ‘70s but better known as a jazz critic through liner notes, editing The Record Changer and articles for various publications. Hadlock died February 2nd at 94.

Roger Middleton (1930 - January 29th, 2022) The trumpeter was a member of the U.S. Air Force’s Airmen of Note then joined Stan Kenton’s orchestra, appearing on the 1959 Capitol albums Viva Kenton and Standards in Silhouette. Middleton died January 29th at 91.

Joe Santiago (1950 - January 28th, 2022) The bassist and trombonist worked with Willie Colón, Larry Harlow, Charlie Santiago, Andrea Brachfeld, Ray Barretto, Hilton Ruiz, Bebo Valdés, Chucho Valdés, Mario Bauza, Jimmy Bosch, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Samuels, Paquito D’Rivera, Chico O’Farrill and others. Santiago died January 28th at 72. 

Mark Levine (October 4th, 1938 - January 27th, 2022) The pianist/valve trombonist made several records for Catalyst, Concord, HeavyWood Music and Left Coast Clave to go along with credits since the ‘60s under Houston Person, Luis Gasca, Gabor Szabo, Moacir Santos, Joe Henderson, Ray Pizzi, Mark Murphy, Cal Tjader, Poncho Sanchez, Blue Mitchell, Bobby Shew, Mongo Santamaria and others. Levine died January 27th at 83.

Beegie Adair (December 11th, 1937 - January 23rd, 2022) After early work as a session musician on The Johnny Cash Show, the pianist devoted sessions on Hillboro, Green Hill and other labels to Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern, Nat King Cole and others, part of a leader catalogue of nearly 50 albums since the late ‘90s. Adair died January 23rd at 84.

Emil Mangelsdorff (April 11th, 1925 - January 21st, 2022) The German alto saxophonist/flutist (whose playing jazz led to imprisonment by the Nazi Gestapo then forcible conscription in the German army and four years as a POW of the Soviet Army at the end of WWII) and older brother to late trombonist Albert was active since the mid ‘40s with his brother, Jutta Hipp, Hans Koller, Frankfurt Allstars, Joki Freund, George Gruntz, German All-Stars and others while leading dates for Brunswick, Opera, Europa, Telefunken, Trion and L+R. Mangelsdorff died January 21st at 96.

Ray Gaskins (??? - January 20th, 2022) The saxophonist was a regular with Roy Ayers’ groups and a member of the Exodus Quartet to go along with several albums since the mid ‘90s on MT, Lipstick and Expansion. Gaskins died January 20th at an unknown age.

Jim Harrison (September 11th, 1932 - January 19th, 2022) The promoter, agent and Jazz Journalists Association “Jazz Hero” award recipient spent his life championing jazz musicians in New York, worked at Slugs’, Sweet Basil and the Jazz Cultural Theater, was a decades-long consultant for Jazzmobile and publisher of the jazz paper Spotlight News. Harrison died January 19th at 89.

Héctor “Tito” Matos (June 15th, 1968 - January 18th, 2022) The Puerto Rican percussionist led his own bands and recorded with David Sánchez, Eddie Palmieri, Ralph Irizarry, Miguel Zenón, John Santos and others. Matos died January 18th at 53.

Badal Roy (October 16th, 1939 - January 18th, 2022) The Indian tabla player began his career in the band of John McLaughlin in the early ‘70s, going on to two years with Miles Davis, then credits with Pharoah Sanders, Dave Liebman, Frank Tusa, Masabumi Kikuchi, Teo Macero, Herbie Mann, Perry Robinson, Steve Turre, Ornette Coleman, Bill Laswell, Arturo O’Farrill and others, plus his own or co-led dates for Trio, Adamo, Improvising Arts Inc., Music World Music, Tutu, Nomad, FMR, Jazzhead and Soul Note. Roy died January 18th at 82 of complications from COVID-19.

Tulivu Donna Cumberbatch (July 28th, 1950 - January 17th, 2022) The vocalist released a handful of albums since the early ‘90s on Ki-Ki and self-released and recorded with Cecil Payne, QPSM Unit, Salim Washington and Lucy Galliher. Cumberbatch died January 17th at 71.

Claude Gousset (November 21st, 1929 - January 17th, 2022) The French trombonist was active in the ‘50-70s, with credits under Claude Bolling, Michel Attenoux, André Persiany, Sidney Bechet, Guy Lafitte, Paul Gonsalves, Al Grey and others. Gousset died January 17th at 92.

Steve Schapiro (November 16th, 1934 - January 15, 2022) The photographer’s images from the ‘60s could be found in albums released on Jazzland, Riverside, Battle, Milestone, Landmark, Fantasy and other labels, including such seminal dates as Bill Evans’ Everybody Digs Bill Evans, Elmo Hope’s Hope-Full, George Russell’s Ezz-thetics, Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery’s Bags Meets Wes! and others. Schapiro died January 15th at 87.

Montez Coleman (July 23rd, 1973 - January 14th, 2022) The drummer was in various Roy Hargrove bands and also had credits under Bobby Watson, Russell Gunn, Rufus Reid, Gerald Cannon, Derrick Gardner, Bruce Barth and others. Coleman died January 14th at 48.

Nick Polites (July 2nd, 1927 - January 14th, 2022) The Australian clarinetist led his own groups and worked with Melbourne New Orleans Jazz Band, Yarra Yarra New Orleans Jazz Band, Frank Johnson, Louisiana Shakers and Allan Browne. Polites died January 14th at 94. 

Miguel Ángel Chastang (1952 - January 13th, 2022) The Spanish bassist worked with Jorge Pardo, Isaac Turienzo and Pedro Iturralde and led his own bands for dates on CFE, Karonte, Nuba and RTVE Música. Chastang died January 13th at 69.

Terry Teachout (February 6th, 1956 - January 13th, 2022) The author wrote Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong and Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington, reviews for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and liner notes for Enja, Concord, Koch and Arbors. Teachout died January 13th at 65.

Fred Van Hove (February 19th, 1937 - January 13th, 2022) The Belgian pianist was one of the fathers of indigenous European free improvisation and avant garde jazz, at first with compatriot saxophonist Kris Wanders and bassist Paul Van Gysegem, then German bassist Peter Kowald and, through him, his most longstanding partner, German reedplayer Peter Brötzmann. After appearing on Brötzmann's octet album Machine Gun in 1968, eventually a trio of Brötzmann, Van Hove and Dutch drummer Han Bennink remained, working discretely and with others through 1975. Van Hove would also go on to found the Werkgroep Improviserende Musici and work with Albert Mangelsdorff, Manfred Schoof, Don Cherry, Phil Wachsmann, Lol Coxhill, Barry Guy, Johannes Bauer, Radu Malfatti, Frank Gratkowski, Tony Oxley, Wolfgang Fuchs, Paul Dunmall, Paul Lovens, Lou Grassi and others and release his own or collaborative albums on MPS, Vogel, WIM, FMP/SAJ, Nato, Bvhaast, Nuscope, Saravah, Potlatch and Psi. Van Hove died January 13th at 84. 

Jordi Sabatés (October 23rd, 1948 - January 11th, 2022) The Spanish pianist released albums on Edigsa, BASF (one in duo with countryman Tete Montoliu), RCA, Belter, PDI, Grabaciones Accidentales, Nuevos Medios and Picap. Sabatés died January 11th at 71.

Khan Jamal (July 23rd, 1946 - January 10th, 2022) The vibraphonist (né Warren Cheeseboro), active since the ‘70s, had over a dozen leader or co-led dates on Dogtown, Palm, Philly Jazz, Jambrio, SteepleChase, Storyville, Stash, Gazell, CIMP and other labels and credits with Ted Daniel, Monette Sudler, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Jemeel Moondoc, Billy Bang, Joe Bonner, Roy Campbell, Matthew Shipp, Omar Hill and others. Jamal died January 10th at 75.

James Mtume (January 3rd, 1946 - January 9th, 2022) The percussionist, composer and producer (and son of Jimmy Heath), prior to his decades of success in the worlds of pop, R&B and soul, played with father Jimmy and uncle Albert, Art Farmer, Buddy Terry, Harold Land, Abbey Lincoln, Gato Barbieri, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Carlos Garnett, Ronnie Foster, Gary Bartz, Azar Lawrence, Terumasa Hino, Eddie Henderson and Miles Davis—the latter’s group where he met his future songwriting partner Reggie Lucas—and released albums on Strata-East, Third Street and Epic. Mtume died January 9th at 75.

Paul Warburton (February 18th, 1942 - January 5th, 2022) The bassist co-led an album for Capri with Dale Bruning in 1987 and had credits since the ‘70s with Pete Christlieb, Joseph Bonner, Richie Cole, Dick Hindman and Cal Tjader. Warburton died January 5th at 79.

Christos Germenoglou (1969 - January 2nd, 2022) The Greek drummer collaborated with Makis Stefanidis, Lakis Tzimkas, Florian Mikuta, Sakis Papadimitriou, Antonis Anissegos and Akira Sakata, was a member of Act Up Trio, Musica Lontana, Basenezmen and Orange Blue Green and had albums on Defkaz, Saixpirikon, Creative Sources and El Negocito. Germenoglou died January 2nd at 51.

Nick Colionne (1966 - January 1st, 2022) The smooth jazz guitarist worked with Brian Bromberg, Jim Peterik and Althea René and released his own albums on Lake Shore, Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm, On The Edge, Three Keys, Narada Music and Koch. Colionne died January 1st at 55.

Paolo Piangiarelli (??? - January 1st, 2022) The Italian producer founded Philology in 1987, going on to release hundreds of albums by native artists like Gianni Basso, Stefano Bollani, Franco D’Andrea, Enrico Rava, Renato Sellani and Massimo Urbani, American players such as Hal Galper, Lee Konitz, Tony Scott and Phil Woods and archival releases from Chet Baker, Charlie Parker and more. Piangiarelli died January 1st at 81.