2026 In Memoriam

---

Gordon Herrick • Jesse Jackson • Estelle Kokot

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.

Pavel Klikar

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.

Jack Cadieu • Matti Caspi • Uwe Dierksen • Connie Fay • Tom Grosland • Kåre Grøttum • Mike Hayler • Henric Holmberg • Trent Kynaston • Mitchell McElwain • Reinhard Schubert • Ebo Taylor • Bias Tilford

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.

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 • 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.

Pat Blackwell • Steve Bowman • Barrie Boyes • 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