Died On This Date (July 11, 2014) Charlie Haden / American Jazz Great

Charlie Haden
August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014

charlie-hadenCharlie Haden was an American jazz bassist who was most notably part of the Free Jazz movement of the ’50s and ’60s.  It was his work in Ornette Coleman‘s quartet during that time that endeared him to fans and critics alike.  The Coleman albums on which he played been called “game changers”, but it was 1959’s The Shape Of Jazz To Come that is considered a landmark of the genre. During the late ’60s and early ’70s, Haden worked with the great Keith Jarrett, playing on several albums that received critical acclaim as well.  In 1969, Haden formed the Liberation Music Orchestra whose output was more politically based, with Carla Bley contributing heavily.  Haden’s most commercially successful period began in the late ’80s with the formation of his Quartet West.  The configuration released albums well into the 2000s, The list of artists with whom Haden recorded over the years was not limited to jazz and includes Elvis Costello, Ginger Baker, Beck, Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr, and Robert Downey Jr.   Haden’s children have enjoyed careers in music as well – his son Joshua Haden is a member of the indie rock band, Spain, while his triplet daughters, Petra Haden, Tanya Haden, and Rachel Haden make up the acclaimed alt-country band, the Haden Triplets.  Charlie Haden was 77 when he passed away on July 11, 2014, following a lengthy illness.

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Died On This Date (June 18, 2014) Horace Silver / Jazz Great

Horace Silver
September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014

horace-silverHorace Silver was an influential American jazz pianist who is largely responsible for creating what is now known as hard bop.  Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Silver lived close enough to New York City to experience its jazz scene from an early age.  After initially picking up the tenor sax, Silver moved over the piano.  His big break came  in 1950 when Stan Getz hired his band to back him at a Hartford gig. That led to a tour and Silver’s recording debut on one of Getz’s records.  Getz later recorded three of Silver’s compositions.  In 1951, Silver formed the Jazz Messengers, one of the most influential jazz collectives of all time.  He also played and recorded with the likes of Miles Davis, Lou Donaldson, and Hank Mobley, to name a few.  In 1956, he signed with Blue Note Records, his home until 1980. Over the course of his career, Silver released over 40 albums as a band leader and countless others as a sideman.  Horace Silver was 85 when he died of natural causes on June 18, 2014.

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Died On This Date (February 25, 2014) Paco de Lucía / World Renowned Flamenco Guitarist

Paco de Lucía (Born Francisco Sánchez Gomes)
December 21, 1947 – February 25, 2014

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF
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Paco de Lucía was a Spanish musician who was considered THE greatest Flamenco guitarist in the world during most of his lifetime.  Born into a musical family in Algeciras, Spain, de Lucía began learning the guitar as early as 5 years old, often practicing 12 hours a day upon his father’s strict orders.  Pretty much done with school at the age of 11 due to his family’s poverty, De Lucía began earning his keep playing on the streets of Algeciras and beyond.  By the 1960s, De Lucía, who had no formal music training, had pretty much single-handedly  reinvented Flamenco by incorporating jazz, classical and salsa into it.  During the ’70s, he began collaborating with the likes of Al Di Miola, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin and Larry Coryell much to the delight of jazz fans around the world.  His 1981 album with McLaughlin and Di Miola, Friday Night in San Francisco, is one of the most celebrated of the genre.  Throughout his 50 year+ career, de Lucía was presented with two Grammys and numerous awards and recognitions.  De Lucía all but retired during the mid 2000s, but continued to release an occasional project and perform live at special events.  While vacationing on February 25, 2014, Paco de Lucía suffered a fatal heart attack.  He was 66.

 

 

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With Al Dimeiola & John Mclaughlin Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF
With Al Dimeiola & John Mclaughlin
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Died On This Date (December 23, 2013) Yusef Lateef / Jazz Great

Yusef Lateef (Born William Huddleston)
October 9, 1920 – December 23, 2013

yusef-lateefYusef Lateef was a highly influential jazz multi-instrumentalist who, primarily through the flute and tenor saxophone, is best remembered for seamlessly integrating of jazz and Eastern music.  Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lateef was exposed to the playing of such local greats as Milt Jackson, Kenny Burrell and Elvin Jones at a very young age.  By the time he finished high school he was already proficient enough on the saxophone to launch his professional career.  In 1949, he was hired by Benny Goodman to tour as part of his orchestra.  By the late ’50s, Lateef was making his own records for Savoy, and later Prestige Records.  In 1961, he released arguably his most influential album, Eastern Sounds.  His use of Eastern instruments on that album clearly influenced the likes of John Coltrane.  In 1987, he was awarded a Grammy for the album, Yusef Lateef’s Little Symphony.  He also acquired numerous other awards and accolades throughout his career – not just as a musician, but as an educator as well.  Yusef Lateef was 93 when he passed away on December 23, 2013.

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Died On This Date (December 10, 2013) Jim Hall / Jazz Guitar Master

Jim Hall
December 4, 1930 – December 10, 2013

jim-hallJim Hall was an influential American jazz guitarist who counted no less than Bill Frissell and Pat Metheny as disciples.  Thanks in part to his skill as an improviser, he was considered one of the greatest guitarists on earth during his time here.  Born into a musical family, Hall began playing the guitar at 10 years old.  He began playing professionally as a teenager and went on to study music at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  He soon headed to Los Angeles to make his mark on the cool jazz scene which was in full swing but settled in New York City around 1960.  Throughout his career, Hall played worked with the best of the best in jazz history.  That list includes Chico Hamilton, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Desmond, and Art Farmer to name just a few.  As a leader, he released no fewer than 40 albums and remarkably, continued to perform regularly until just a few weeks before his death. He was even planning a tour of Japan for January, 2014.  Jim Hall was 83 when he passed away on December 10, 2013.

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