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

Drummer Jimmy Cobb

Saxophonist Lee Konitz

Saxophonist Jimmy Heath

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.