2026 In Memoriam

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James Gadson (June 17th, 1939 - April 3rd, 2026) The drummer, among his hundreds of credits, worked on albums by Charles Kynard, Quincy Jones, Dennis Coffey, Herbie Hancock, Thijs Van Leer, Brass Fever, Miroslav Vitous, John Handy, Jimmy Ponder, Blue Mitchell, Sonny Criss, Gene Harris, Johnny Hammond, Patrice Rushen, Willie Bobo, Benny Golson, Herb Alpert/Hugh Masekela, Jimmy Smith, Wilton Felder, Pharoah Sanders, Masayoshi Takanaka, Roy Ayers/Wayne Henderson, Norman Connors, Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Michael White, Stanley Turrentine, Les McCann, Benny Powell, Freddie Hubbard, Noel Pointer, Calvin Keys, Azar Lawrence, Poncho Sanchez, Joe Sample, Barbara Morrison, Jon Batiste and others. Gadson died April 3rd at 86.

Allan Dent • Wojciech Morawski

Joe Conzo, Sr. • Kathryn Elliott • Bill Leader • David Riondino • Ron Thielman

Paul Stouthamer (1959 - March 28th, 2026) The cellist had a new millennium leader date and credits with Bill Desmond, Jordi Sabates, Frans Vermeerssen, Marcel van Vugt, Rajesh Mehta, Arnau Gil and Liba Villavecchia. Stouthamer died March 28th at ~66.

Lucho González • Lynn McConnell • James "Buzz" Pickens • Bill Rogers

Bob Zieff (June 4th, 1927 - March 26th, 2026) The composer/arranger had credits with Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Lars Gullin, Dick Wetmore, Anthony Ortega, Jack Nimitz, Playboy Jazz All-Stars and others, wrote entries for The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz and hosted radio shows in California and Pennsylvania, states where he was taught university-level jazz courses. Zieff died March 26th at 98.

Dash Crofts • Françoise Devienne • Alexander Kluge • Andrew McFarland • Armas Maiste • Jeffrey Sime • Pat Steir

Gino Paoli (September 23rd, 1934 - March 24th, 2026) The Italian singer-songwriter had new millennium collaborative albums on Blue Note and Parco Della Musica and his songs recorded by Giorgio Gaslini, Peggy Lee, Wes Montgomery, Trombones Unlimited, Dick Hyman, Joe Pass, Nina Simone, Piet Noordijk, John Basile, Giovanni Tommaso, Aldo Romano, Enrico Rava, Luciano Biondini, Luigi Martinale, Giovanni Mirabassi, Gismo Graf and others. Paoli died March 24th at 91.

William Gabel • Laura Mazich • Pierre Ouellette

Chip Taylor (March 21st, 1940 - March 23rd, 2026) The songwriter had his tunes recorded by, among many others, Al Hirt, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Sonny Stitt/Bunky Green, Johnny Hodges, Steve Marcus, Armando Peraza, Nina Simone, Pinguin Moschner/Joe Sachse, Palast Orchester, Randy Crawford/Joe Sample and Giovani Leonesse. Taylor died March 23rd at 86.

Jean-Pierre Vignola (1949 - ~March 23, 2026) The French producer worked on albums released by Black & Blue and did programming for Jazz Club Lionel Hampton, Le Meridien Etoile, Jazz à Vienne, Internationales Jazzfestival Münster, Chicago Blues Festival and other events. Vignola died ~March 23rd, 2026 at 77.

Ed Bagatini • Riza Bekirov • Ken Peterson

Lars-Olof Gustavsson (??? - March 21st, 2026) The Swedish producer founded Silkheart, which released albums by Dennis Gonzalez, Steve Lacy, Ahmed Abdullah, Charles Brackeen, Michael Bisio, Kahil El’Zabar, David S. Ware, Charles Gayle, William Hooker, Other Dimensions in Music, Denis Charles, Brus Trio, Joel Futterman, Matthew Shipp, Ernest Dawkins, Jim Hobbs, Hal Russell, Roy Campbell, Sirone, Andrew Cyrille, AALY Trio, Kidd Jordan, Steve Swell and others. Gustavsson died March 21st at an unknown age.

Steve Houben (March 19th, 1950 - March 21st, 2026) The Belgian saxophonist/flutist (father to trumpeter Greg) had his own or collaborative albums on MD, Arpeges, Igloo, Jazz Cats, LDH, Timeless, B.Sharp, Miss You, Ricercar, Big Bang Music, Pylyjazz, RCB, Mogno Music, Alone Blue, Prisme and Universal Music France alongside credits with Guy Cabay, Christine Schaller, Saxo 1000, Chet Baker, Act Big Band, Bernadette Mottart, Jean-Christophe Renault, V.V. Systém, Pirly Zurstrassen, Claude Maurane, Chris Joris, Gilbert Isben, Diederik Wissels, Marcia Maria, Jean-Pierre Gebler, Olivier Collette, Emil Viklický, Melanie De Biasio, Charles Loos, Jacques Pirotton and others. Houben died March 21st at 76.

Steve Schwerner

Terry Cox (March 13th, 1937 - March 19th, 2026) The British drummer, best known as a member of Pentagle, also had credits with Sandy Brown, Johnny Hawksworth, Ray Warleigh, Harold McNair and Cleo Laine. Cox died March 19th at 89.

Chris Athens • Don Hattery • Dr. James Johnson, Jr. • Dick Lupino

Vlady Bas (February 2nd, 1929 - March 15th, 2026) The Spanish saxophonist/clarinetist (né Wladimiro Bas Zabache) was one of the last surviving members of the famed 1958 Newport International Youth Band, had albums on Acción, credits with Jazztet de Madrid, Pepe Nieto, Juan Carlos Calderón, Jayme Marques, Pepe Sánchez and others and his photographs used in albums by Paul Mauriat, Max Roach, Tamba Trio, Count Basie, Arthur Lyman and Tete Montoliu. Bas died March 15th at 97.

Thorsten Benkenstein (June 1st, 1968 - March 15th, 2026) The German trumpeter had credits with BuJazzO, Thilo Berg, Big Band RTV Slovenija, Vienna Arts Orchestra, German Jazz Orchestra, Downtown Bigband, Dejan Terzić, Bobby Burgess, Peter Herbolzheimer, Harro Steffen, Peter Erskine, The United Jazz+Rock Ensemble, The New Art Orchestra, Sunday Night Orchestra, Ed Partyka, Ansgar Striepens, Berlin International Orchestra, Concert Jazz Orchestra Vienna, Thomas Gansch, NDR Big Band, George Gruntz, Gene Perla, Hans Schüttler and others. Benkenstein died March 15th at 57.

Carlos Aguilera • Gérard Boisnel • Martin Büttner • Jorge Canavati • Nashi Young Cho • Roger Clark • Brian Hall • Tony Pollitt

Keith Ingham (February 5th, 1938 - March 12th, 2026) The British pianist had his own or collaborative albums on 77, World Records Limited, Stomp Off, Jump, Audiophile, Angel, Progressive, Sackville, Challenge, Arbors and A-Records and credits with Susannah McCorkle, Bud Freeman, Bruce Turner/Johnny Barnes, Maxine Sullivan, Jerry Jerome, Marty Grosz, Harry Allen, Richard Sudhalter/Connie Jones, Rick Fay, Dave Van Ronk, Rick Hardeman, Paul Bacon, Bob Barnard, Bobby Gordon, Marian McPartland, Rebecca Kilgore, Joyce Breach, Nancy Nelson, Tommy Whittle, Barbara Jay, Stan King, Ron Russell and others. Ingham died March 12th at 88.

Frédéric Sicart (July 2nd, 1958 - March 11th, 2026) The French drummer worked with Jean-Michel Kajdan, Alain Mion, Pierre-Louis Garcia, Bertrand Richard, Pierre Blanchard, Gérard Gueudin, After In Paris, Aida Ayupova, Ramona Horvath, Francis Lockwood, Stéphane Collin, Dominique Grimaldi and others. Sicart died March 11th at 67.

Fred Vigorito (April 2nd, 1943 - March 10th, 2026) The cornet player led The Galvanized Jazz Band for over five decades, was a member of The Easy Riders Jazz Band and worked with Alcide “Slow Drag” Pavageau, Bill Bissonnette, Darryl Adams, Brian Carrick, French Preservation New Orleans Jazz Band, New Orleans Delight and others. Vigorito died March 10th at 82.

Joe Bunich • Marko Govorčin • Günter Kiesant • Joe McDonald • Walter Martino • Bronwen Naish • Jean Quatre • Ingrid Schmithüsen • Pepe Teirikari

Jack Jeffers (December 10th, 1928 - March 5th, 2026) The trombonist/tuba player worked with Jazz Composers Orchestra, Carla Bley, Herbie Hancock, Hermeto Pascoal, Ernie Wilkins, Houston Person, Latin Jazz Quintet, Charles Earland, Warren Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Cal Tjader, Clark Terry, Randy Weston, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie, Dom Um Romao, Charles Tolliver, Anthony Braxton, Yusef Lateef, Harold Vick, Charlie Barnet, Lena Horne, Charlie Haden, Al Grey, The American Jazz Orchestra, Grover Mitchell, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jimmy Heath, Nancie Banks, Ray Rivera, Chico O’Farrill, George Gee, Louie Bellson, Arturo O’Farrill, Peter Hand, Valery Ponomarev and others. Jeffers died March 5th at 97.

Andy Marsala (June 30th, 1942 - March 5th, 2026) The saxophonist was one of the last surviving members (and only American) of the famed 1958 Newport International Youth Band and later worked with Sal Salvador. Marsala died March 5th at 83.

Peter Bernhardt

Denney Goodhew (1952 - March 4th, 2026) The reed/wind player and pedagogue was a member of First Avenue, with a 1980 ECM album, and had credits with Don Mock, Joni Metcalf, Barney McClure, Allen Youngblood, Rich Halley, Emiko Kai, Anthony Braxton, Jerry Granelli, Greta Matassa, Andrienne Wilson, Wayne Horvitz, Howard Schanzer, Don Lanphere/Bud Shank, Jay Thomas, Joachim Mencel, New Brew, Sigi Busch, Ralph Towner, Without the Cat, Charlie Haden and others. Goodhew died March 4th at 73.

Earl Barton • Jim Russo • Jerry Semerad

Jack Chambers (July 12th, 1938 - March 2nd, 2026) The Canadian linguist authored biographies of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Richard Twardzik. Chambers died March 2nd at 88.

Floye "Flo" Dreyer (August 1st, 1927 - March 2nd, 2026) The trumpeter/valve trombonist worked with Joy Cayler and International Sweethearts of Rhythm in the ‘40s, led her own band in the ’50s and decades later played with the North Miami Concert Band and Hallandale Symphonic Pops Orchestra. Dreyer died March 2nd at 98.

Bobby Felder • Christoph Grote-Beverborg • Dave Moore • Bob Power • Kerry Price • Michael Vernon

Jan Huydts (February 25th, 1937 - February 27th, 2026) The Dutch pianist/keyboard player released albums on Philips, JG, Elektra, Omega International and Pinehill, was a member of Basic Train, Third Eye, Dutch Treat, The Swing Society and Dutch Jazz Orchestra and had credits with Greetje Kauffeld, Ann Burton, Herman Schoonderwalt, Chris Hinze, Frans Elsen, Rob Franken, Wim Overgaauw, Pim Jacobs, Pia Beck and others. Huydts died February 27th at 89.

Jean-Pierre Bretéché • Marc Kislak • Eddie Petersen • Neil Sedaka • Louis Jean van der Haegen

Tony Price (June 28th, 1941 - February 23rd, 2026) The tuba player, co-founder of the New York Tuba Quartet and a Sesame Street musician, had credits with Collins-Shepley Galaxy, Freddie Hubbard, Don Sebesky, Eddie Palmieri, Deodato, Buddy Rich, Al Stewart, Phil Woods, David Matthews, John Tropea, Stanley Turrentine, Barry Miles, Joe Farrell, David Spinozza, Michel Legrand, Wynton Marsalis, Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, Nnenna Freelon, Super Trombone and others. Price died February 23rd at 84.

Coleman Barks • Edgar Hoffmann • Peter Sigrist

Willie Colón (April 28th, 1950 - February 21st, 2026) The salsa trombonist/trumpeter/percussionist and bandleader had sideman credits with Jack McDuff, George Muribus, Flip Nuñez and Pete and Sheila Escovedo and his tunes recorded by Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaria, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Chris Washburne, Joe Fiedler and Miguel Zenón. Colón died February 21st at 75.

Bill Sinclair (??? - February 21st, 2026) The pianist worked with Bill Bissonnette, George "Kid Sheik" Cola, The Galvanized Jazz Band, Albert Burbank, The Easy Riders Jazz Band, New Orleans Quarter and others. Sinclair died February 21st at an unknown age.

Ron Bickel • Terry Brunt • Peter Brüssow • Howard Chichester • John Fredrickson • Polly Harrison • Gordon Herrick • Jesse Jackson • Justine Keeys • Estelle Kokot • Ray Reach

Kazue Sawai (January 1st, 1941 - February 15th, 2026) Among the Japanese koto player’s credits were collaborations with Takeshi Inomata, Toshi Ichiyanagi, Derek Bailey, Michel Doneda, Tetsu Saitoh, Fumio Itabashi, Joëlle Léandre, Lê Quan Ninh, Joseph Jarman and others. Sawai died February 15th at 76.

Jim Friedman • John Galluzzi • Pavel Klikar • Valeri Nikitin • Michael Torres

Michel Portal (November 27th, 1935 - February 12th, 2026) The French saxophonist/clarinetist/bandoneon player, a key figure in his country’s nascent avant garde scene (as well as having parallel careers in classical music, chanson and soundtrack composing), had his own or collaborative albums on Pathé, Futura, CBS, Le Chant Du Monde, Cy, L’Escargot, hatHUT, Saravah, Trema, Harmonia Mundi, Label Bleu, Marianne International, Erato, Owl, Dreyfus, BMG, Universal Music, PAO, RSR, Sunnyside, Classics & Jazz and Intuition and credits with Pierre Michelot, Jean-Luc Ponty, Jef Gilson, Michel Hausser, Claude Bolling, François Tusques, André Hodeir, Ivan Jullien, Alan Silva, Jacques Thollot, George Gruntz, Sunny Murray, Aldo Romano, Henri Texier, Richard Galliano, Daniel Humair, Vienna Art Orchestra, Susanne Abbuehl, Sylvain Luc, Antoine Hervé, Miroslav Vitous, Jacky Terrasson, Nicolas Folmer, Emile Parisien, Ibrahim Maalouf, Nöel Balen and others. Portal died February 12th at 90.

Ken Walker (~1957 - February 12th, 2026) The bassist had a 2002 leader date alongside credits with Ron Miles, Fred Wesley, Barbara Paris, Lew Tabackin, Valery Ponomarev, Charles McPherson, Fred Hess, Bob Montgomery, Willie Hill, Al Hermann, Joni Janak, Keith Oxman, Colin Stranahan, Phil Woods/Carl Saunders, Pete Sommer, Brad Goode, Alan Hood, Richie Cole, Curtis Fuller, H2 Big Band, Gabriel Mervin, Ben Markley and others. Walker died February 12th at 69.

Uwe Dierksen • Roger Dismore • Marsha Evans • Tom Grosland • Henric Holmberg • Bias Tilford

Don Schlitten (March 4th, 1932 - February 9th, 2026) The legendary producer, designer, photographer and liner notes author had hundreds of credits in one or more of those roles first for Signal (which he helped establish), then the Prestige family of labels, Metronome, Riverside, RCA, Limelight, MPS, Cobblestone (which he co-founded), Atlantic, Muse, Onyx, Milestone, Columbia and finally his own Xanadu. Schlitten died February 9th at 93.

Jack Cadieu • Matti Caspi • Connie Fay • Kåre Grøttum • Mike Hayler • Trent Kynaston • Mitchell McElwain • Reinhard Schubert • Ebo Taylor

Jack Petersen (October 25th, 1933 - February 5th, 2026) The guitarist built pedagogy departments at Berklee College of Music, University of North Texas and University of North Florida, worked with Billy Taylor, Peggy Lee, Stan Kenton, Milt Hinton, Dave Brubeck, Doc Severinsen, Henry Mancini, Buddy DeFranco, Herb Ellis, Clark Terry and others, had albums on Music Minus One and Four Leaf Clover and recording credits with Phil Wilson, Rich Matteson, Harvey Phillips, Jamey Aebersold, Mike Vax, The NTSU Jazz Guitars and University Of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band. Petersen died February 5th at 92.

Alain Barrabes • Vlastimilo Bednarík • Don Coppola • Ken Wiley

Jacek Mielcarek (May 17th, 1964 - February 4th, 2026) The Polish saxophonist had albums on Polskie Radio Opole, Jazz Forum and Audio Cave, some with his bassist son Jakub, alongside credits with Anna Panas and others. Mielcarek died February 4th at 61.

Tommy Crook • Meisho Tosha

Christian Ducasse (1954 - February 3rd, 2026) The French photographer had his images used in albums released on Free Lance, IDA, Owl, CELP, Sunnyside, Soul Note, Sketch, Enfance Et Musique, Night Bird Music, Le Chant Du Monde, BMC, La Buissonne, Cristal, Marge, Atelier Sawano, Bee Jazz, Nocturne, O+ Music, Tzadik, Clean Feed, Plus Loin Music, Roguart, Savant, Jazz Unité, Leo, Great Winds, OutNote, Aztec Musique, Corbett vs. Dempsey, Storyville, Elemental Music and Label Ouest. Ducasse died February 3rd at ~72.

Pete Devine • Roberto Sánchez Ferrer • Billy Marcus 

Ken Peplowski (May 23rd, 1959 - February 2nd, 2026) The clarinetist/saxophonist had his own or collaborative albums on Concord, Groove Jams, Arbors, Koch, Jump, Menus And Music, Mainstem, Nagel Heyer, Crown Jewels, Woodville, Capri, Venus, Victoria Company, Merfangle, Cellar Music and Advance Music and credits with Richard Iacona, Benny Goodman, Dan Barrett, Loren Schoenberg, Andy Stein, Peter Ecklund, Marty Paich, Howard Alden, George Shearing, Hank Jones, Terry Waldo, Daryl Sherman, Charlie Byrd, Alain Bouchet, Allan Vaché, Johnny Varro, Spike Robinson, George Masso, Randy Sandke, Stan King, Terry Blaine, Lars Erstrand, Tom Postilio, Steve Allen, Miyuki Koga, Lucie Arnaz, Travelin' Light, Keith Ingham, Ed Polcer, Marty Grosz, Eden Atwood, Ruby Braff, Frank Vignola, Satoru Oda, The Blue Birds Society Orchestra, Kjell Fernström, Donny Byrne, The International Allstars, Chuck Redd, Dick Hyman, Jim Cullum, Brian Lemon, Ed Saindon, David Ostwald, The Metronote Quintet, Michael Moore, John Pizzarelli, Mitsuaki Kishi, Stolle & Svare Jazzquintet, BBC Big Band, Paula West, Rebecca Kilgore, Barbara Carroll, Junko Mine, Klüvers Big Band, Wendee Glick, Jessica Molaskey, Statesmen of Jazz, Bucky Pizzarelli/Ray Kennedy, Eddie Higgins, Carol Sloane, Marilyn Scott, Carol Weisman, Trisha O’Brien, Cheryl Bentyne, Holly Hofmann/Bill Cunliffe, Pete and Will Anderson, Katie Thiroux, Brent Fischer, Michel Pastre, Sakuya Tsuruta, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Christof Sänger, Diego Figueiredo, Allen Lowe, Ted Rosenthal, Erik Leuthäuser and others. Peplowski died February 2nd at 66.

Aman Zzyzx

Andy Cooper (February 23rd, 1942 - February 1st, 2026) The Scottish clarinetist had a handful of new millennium leader dates alongside credits with Alan Elsdon, Kenny Ball and others. Cooper died February 1st at 83.

Graham Morgan (April 30th, 1937 - February 1st, 2026) The Australian drummer worked with Charles White, Graeme Lyall, John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Jabula, Arena, Jackie Orszaczky, Peter Martin, Australian Radio Rhythm Orchestra and others. Morgan died February 1st at 88.

Ralph Boroff • Michael Bossong • Daniel Cheese • Mel Pauze • H. Robert Reynolds

Imre Kőszegi (December 6, 1944 - January 29th, 2026) The Hungarian drummer had his own or collaborative albums on JG, HTSART, YVP Music and Fon-Trade Music, was a member of The Super Trio and Saturnus and worked with Tommy Vig, Gábor Szabó, György Szabados, János Fogarasi, Gusztáv Csík, Rudolf Tomsits, Lajos Dudas, György Vukán, Aladár Pege, Stjepko Gut, Jo Mikovich, Al Casey, Annah Dániel, Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, Csaba Deseő, Hannes Beckmann, Attila Zoller, Mihály Ráduly, György Geiger, Classy Four and others. Kőszegi died January 29th at 81.

Craig Faltin • Terry Mohn • Jack Peaker • Bili Redd • Hans Schütz • Michael Skinkus • Manfred Schmelzer

James "Mingo" Lewis (December 8th, 1953 - January 27th, 2026) The percussionist had credits with, among others, Carlos Santana/John McLaughlin, Return to Forever, Al DiMeola, Bennie Maupin, Paul McCandless, Bill Summers and Headhunters. Lewis died January 27th at 72.

Juliane Backman • Norbert Robak • Pedro José Rivero Ruiz • James Sallis • Bill Willis

Richie Beirach (May 23rd, 1947 - January 26th, 2026) The pianist, long based in Germany, had his own or collaborative albums on ECM, Trio, International Phonograph Inc., CMP, Eastwind, Polydor, CBS/Sony, Pathfinder, Columbia, Owl, Triloka, Ken Music, EAU, Concord Jazz, SteepleChase, Life Limit Dream, Alfa Jazz, Evidence, Hornblower, Onoff, Venus, Trial, Laika, Nabel, Intuition, Nuromusic, Sunnyside, RadJazz, OutNote, Kulak, Neuklang, ZoHo, Origin, Pony Canyon, ACT, Jazzline, JazzSick and O-tone Music, a half-century-plus partnership with Dave Liebman, including co-leading or playing on dozens of each other’s albums and co-founding Quest, and credits with Stan Getz, Frank Tusa, Jeremy Steig, Badal Roy, Pat LaBarbera, Chet Baker, Dizzy Reece, John Scofield, George Ohtsuka, Zbigniew Seifert, John Abercrombie, George Adams, John McNeil, Stephen Roane, Conrad Herwig, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Ron McClure, Philippe Kahn, Anders Bergcrantz, George Mraz, Mike Richmond, Masami Nakagawa, Paul Wertico, Nora York, Frédéric Favarel, Steve Davis, Steve Smith, Hubert Winter, Gabriele Donati, Bienne City Arkestra, Lee Konitz, Michel Portal, Patrick Manzecchi, Fred Farell, John Moulder and others. Beirach died January 26th at 78. 

Béla Lattmann (June 20th, 1960 - January 26th, 2026) The Hungarian electric bassist worked with Tony Lakatos, Attila László, László Gárdonyi, Attila Malecz, Horváth Kornél, Földvári Gergely, Peter Massink/Viktor Bori, Morgan Workshop, Berki Tamás, Béla Zsoldos, Gyula Babos, Dagobert Böhm, Cotton Club Singers, Borlai Gergő and others. Lattmann died January 26th at 65.

Ian McDougall (June 14th, 1938 - January 26th, 2026) The Canadian trombonist had his own or collaborative albums on CBC Radio Canada, Energy, Intercan, Ten Mile Music Production, Concord Jazz, Barbarian Jazz, Cellar Live and his own imprint, was a member of The Brass Connection and Pacific Salt and worked with John Dankworth, Dave Robbins, Moe Koffman, Rob McConnell, Hagood Hardy, Rick Wilkins, Sammy Nestico, Fraser MacPherson, Art Ellefson, Hugh Fraser and others. McDougall died January 26th at 87.

Harry Clarck • Stan DeVore • Sly Dunbar • Bira Haway • Hardy Hepp • Buzz McCoy

Christoph Stiefel (July 29th, 1961 - ~January 24th, 2026) The Swiss pianist had his own or collaborative albums on Biber, Pangani, Jazzline, Make Up Your World, Enja, Neuklang, Traumton, Basho, Challenge, Nwog and Clap Your Hands and credits with Max Lässer, Florian Egli, Andreas Vollenweider, The Intergalactic Maiden Ballet, Friedemann Witecka, Düde Dürst/Christian Ostermeier, Teddy Bärlocher, Jonas C. Häfeli, Stephan Rigert, Robert Doc Mthalane, Lars Lindvall, Christian Münchinger, Stefano Saccon and others. Stiefel died ~January 24th at 64.

Jan Berger • Rusty Crain • Ted Druhot • Mike Hanns • Ronald Kaplan • Angelika Mann • Harvey Pittel • Michel "Boss" Quéraud • George Smith III • Kristinn Svavarsson • James E. Trotta • Henry West

Geoff Culverwell (??? - January 20th, 2026) The New Zealander trumpeter had credits with NZ Trading Company, Quincy Conserve, The Golden Horn Big Band, 1860 Band, Rodger Fox and others. Culverwell died January 20th at an unknown age.

Beti Đorđević • Robert Sarkis

Heddy Boubaker (March 3rd, 1963 - January 19th, 2026) The French multi-instrumentalist had his own or collaborative albums on Creative Sources, Stasisfield, Insubordinations, Petit Label, Ayler, Audition, Intonema, Mikroton, Re:konstruKt, Un Rêve Nu, trAce Label, Why Not Ltd, Electronic Musik, Live Actions, CONV, Amplified Music Pollution and Bruits Netlabel. Boubaker died January 19th at 62.

Peter Rückert • Senka Veletanlić

Ralph Towner (March 1st, 1940 - January 18th, 2026) The guitarist/pianist co-founded Oregon in 1971, the group making dozens of albums for Vanguard, Elektra, ECM, Portrait, veraBra, Chesky, Intuition, CAMJazz and other labels, had his own large discography for ECM from 1972-2022 as well as releasing dates for other imprints and worked with Duke Pearson, Paul Winter, Weather Report, Horacee Arnold, Clive Stevens, Keith Jarrett, Larry Coryell. John Abercrombie, Jan Garbarek, David Friesen, Terry Plumeri, Kenny Wheeler, Egberto Gismonti, Azimuth, Fred Simon/Michael Bard, Trilok Gurtu, Vince Mendoza, Jerry Granelli, Howard Schanzer, Andrea Marcelli, Pino Daniela, Marc Copland, Michel Portal, Maria João, Bill Bruford, Andy Middleton, Maria Pia De Vito, Salvatore Bonafede, Charlie Haden, MGT, Nancy King, Javier Girotto, SFJazz Collective and others. Towner died January 18th at 85.

Gary Burke • Renaud Caspar • Ken Durland

Frank Clayton (November 1st, 1942 - January 16th, 2026) The bassist/drummer (former spouse and collaborator of Jay Clayton) worked with Albert Ayler, Sam Rivers, Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Leroy Jenkins, Cecil McBee, Eddie Harris, Barry Harris, Julian Priester, Gary Peacock, Marc Levin, Cha Cha Shaw, Herb Ellis, Eddie Gomez, Von Freeman, Randy Brecker, Jaki Byard, Lee Konitz, Mal Waldron, Billy Hart, James Williams, Gary Karr, Byron Morris, Ralph Towner, Steve Reich, Black Yiddish Trio, Max Roach, Floyd Standifer, Marc Seales, Chuck and Joni Metcalf, Ernestine Anderson, Jim Knapp, Jabo Ward, Chuck Deardorf, Jay Thomas, Buddy Catlett, Andy Statman, David Haney, George Cables and others. Clayton died January 16th at 83.

Carlos Ward (May 1st, 1940 - January 16th, 2026) The Panama-born saxophonist had a 1998 Leo date then self-released several albums in the ‘90s and was a member of the funk group B.T. Express to go along with credits under John Coltrane, Karl Berger, Don Cherry, Roswell Rudd, Rashied Ali, Dollar Brand, Paul Motian, Grachan Moncur III, Clifford Thornton, Carla Bley, Kip Hanrahan, Sathima Bea Benjamin, Teo Macero, Amina Claudine Myers, Cecil Taylor, Pheeroan akLaff, Paris Reunion Band, Frank Lowe, Dennis González, Don Pullen, Paul Haines, Ed Blackwell, Phillip Wilson and Bob Stewart. Ward died January 16th at 85.

Judyie Al-Bilali • Pat Blackwell • Steve Bowman • Barrie Boyes • Jorge Caicedo • Joe Coria • Wallace Crawford • Frank Cuomo • Dave DeBree • Randolph Fontenette • Lamar Gaines • Paul Hardcastle, Jr. • Pearse Harvey • Paul Ingle • Jim Ingram • Hans Linder • Jeff Mitchell • Brian Plourde • Rob Rincon • Ado Schlier • Mark Weiss • Luli Widharmadi • Max Zape

Rick Haydon (June 24th, 1950 - January 11th, 2026) The guitarist and educator had albums on Mel Bay and Jazz Compass and worked with Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Bucky Pizzarelli, Mulgrew Miller, John Pizzarelli, Asa Harris, Ray Kennedy, Jim Widner, Birch Creek Academy Band, Brett Stamps and others. Haydon died January 11th at 75. 

Ryan Anthony • Zéno Bianu • James Brisbane • Jeff Callaway • Jim Day • Jean-Claude Felix • Roger Keay • John Wallace • Karl Gert zur Heide

Roberto "Fats" Fernandez (June 7th, 1937 - January 7th, 2026) The Argentine trumpeter had albums on Interdisc and Melopea and credits with The Georgians Jazz Band, Jorge López Ruiz, Clare Fischer/Jorge Calandrelli, Alberto Favero, Jorge Anders, Angel Pocho Gatti, Nestor Astarita, Mingo Martino, Marcelo Fraga, Alfombra Magica, Fernando Tarrés, Mauricio Einhorn, Pocho Lapouble, Adriana Varela, Sergio Paolucci, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Argentina, Quintino Cinalli, Adalberto Cevasco and others. Fernandez died January 7th at 88.

Rebecca Kilgore (September 24th, 1949 - January 7th, 2026) The singer has albums on PHD Music, Arbors, Jazzology, Jump, Audiophile, HeavyWood Music, Blue Swing, PDX Uke, Swingbros Co. and Cherry Pie Music and credits with Dave Frishberg, Hal Smith, Tall Jazz, Dan Barrett, Kim Scanlon, John Sheridan, Woody Hite, Bryan Shaw, Duke Heitger, Lino Patruno, Lars Estrand, Harry Allen/Joe Cohn, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Tate, Echoes of Swing and others. Kilgore died January 7th at 76.

Bert Bevans • Vic Garbarini • Dave Hetherington • Gary Lindner • Michael Peslikis • Rolf Riehm • Brian White

Wiro Mahieu (1946 - January 5th, 2026) The Dutch bassist was a member of Low Motion Trio and One Warp and worked with Luluk Purwanto, Ineke Van Doorn, Rob Van Der Broeck, Pascal Vermeer, Jeroen Pek, Willem Hellbreker, Amina Figarova, Paul Van Kemenade, Bernhard Reinke, I Compani, Colette Wickenhagen, Ad Colen, Pierre Courbois and others. Mahieu died January 5th at 61.

Glenn Ayers • Adrián Goizueta

Jacques Muyal (~1940 - ~January 4th, 2026) The Moroccan producer worked on albums by Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Idrees Sulieman, Thelonious Monk, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Joe Pass, Oscar Dennard, Ed Cherry, Tommy Flanagan, Claudio Roditi, Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini, Hank Jones, Kenny Barron, Mauricio Einhorn, Lula Galvão, Randy Weston and others. Muyal died ~January 4th at ~85.

Eddie K. Allen • Stephen E. Braude • Anita Dixon-Brown • Sebastian Giacco • Sir Bob Hill • Rick Lazaroff • Sujeong Lee • Jim Lodge • Pete Teague • Logan Walker, Sr.

Tony Carr (October 24th, 1927 - January 2nd, 2026) The Maltese drummer/percussionist, long based in England, had credits with Bill Le Sage, John Cameron, Danny Moss, Cleo Laine, Vic Lewis, Harold McNair, Ronnie Ross, Jack Parnell, Chris Spedding, Freddy Cole, Dick Morrissey and Tony Hymas/Daryl Runswick Big Band alongside various pop and rock work. Carr died January 2nd at 98.

Josie Falbo • Trevor Holroyd • Vera Jeanne Materre • Kenny Weir • Nyala Wright Nolen