The year 2020 has transitioned to 2021, and many talented artists in the jazz community left our midst in that year gone by. This time on the program, we play just a few of those to remember - and share links, and more about them. Sadly, the number is very high (more than 50), and our condolences to family, friends and fans of those held so dear.
We hear from just some of the greats who parted, including:
vocalist, songwriter and actress Annie Ross
Pianist, composer, educator and patriarch, Ellis Marsalis
Pianist McCoy Tyner
Saxophonist Lee Konitz
Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli
Composer Johnny Mandel
Saxophonist Jeff Clayton
Pianist Frank Kimbrough
Pianist / Vocalist Freddy Cole
Guitarist Jerry Byrd
Trumpeter Wallace Roney
Trombonist Harold Betters
Saxophonist, composer/arranger Richie Cole
On the SCENE this week, sounds and stories from and about all of these artists. Noon on Friday and Saturday, Sunday night at 5.
Also, we remember drummer Viola Smith, who passed at age 107 (see the video, below)
Other artists who died in 2020 include:
Eugene “Woody” Smith; Cecilio Valdez Washington; Mike Longo; Ray Mantilla; Claudio Roditi; Lyle Mays; Gary Peacock; writer Stanley Crouch; Candido; Stanley Cowell; Peter Ecklund; Jerry Bruno; Helen Jones Woods; Ira Sullivan; Onaje Allen Gumbs; Bob Gullotti; Lucien Barbarin; Danny Ray Thompson, Jon Christensen; Manu Dibango; Bill Withers; Eddy Davis; Hal Willner; Andy González; Richard Teitelbaum; Jymie Merritt; Professor Joe Torres; Henry Grimes; Giuseppi Logan; Tony Allen; Lucky Peterson; Charli Persip; Ronald Bell; Bootsie Barnes; Jorge Santana; Marcelo Peralta; Toshinori Kondo; Andrew White, Claude Bolling, Eugene Wright, Mark Colby, nightclub owner/presenter Joe Segal, Cleveland Eaton, Joe Porcaro, Lennie Niehaus, Lucky Peterson, Donn Trenner, Henry Grimes, Peter Ecklund, Ron Gill, and Bob Ojeda.
More comprehensive listings and other information can be found at Noal Cohen's Jazz History Website.
Ellis Marsalis and Sons
Richie Cole
John and Jeff Clayton
Frances Carroll holds the baton for the band led by drummer Viola Smith. Ms. Smith passed in 2020 at the age of 107