Died On This Date (June 29, 1964) Eric Dolphy / Jazz Legend

Eric Dolphy
June 20, 1928 – June 29, 1964

Eric Dolphy was a jazz saxophonist who is considered a major influence on the world of free jazz and avant garde improvisation as well.  He was also one the earliest flute and bass clarinet soloists of any importance.   Over his short career, Dolphy performed or recorded with such greats as John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Max Roach. When Eric Dolphy died suddenly at the age of 36, it was assumed that he followed the same fate as so many jazz artists of the day, but instead of his being a drug related death, Dolphy’s was attributed to diabetic shock.

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Out to Lunch (The Rudy Van Gelder Edition Remastered) - Eric Dolphy

 

Died On This Date (April 13, 2010) Steve Reid / Notable Jazz Drummer

Steve Reid
January 29, 1944 – April 13, 2010

Steve Reid was an accomplished jazz drummer who, over the course of a long career played with the likes of Miles Davis, Sun Ra, James Brown, and Ornette Coleman.  He also served as a house drummer for Motown.  Reid was still a teenager when he started drumming, and by the time he went off to college, he had already worked in the house band at the Apollo Theater.  Reid released several albums under his own name including those he self-distributed on his own label.  During the 2000s, Reid performed with electronic wiz, Kieran Hebden, also known as Four Tet.  Steve Reid passed away on April 13, 2010 at the age of 66.

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Died On This Date (October 19, 1995) Don Cherry / Avant Garde Jazz Legend

Don Cherry
November 18, 1936 – October 19, 1995

Don Cherry 1Don Cherry was a highly regarded avant garde jazz trumpeter who is came to prominence during in the late ’50s while playing with Ornette Coleman.  His resume, both in the studio and on record, includes a who’s who of the greatest jazz musicians of the ’60s and ’70s.  It included John Coltrane, Sonny RollinsHerbie Hancock, Gato Barbieri, Sun Ra, and Ed Blackwell.  Cherry released several albums leading his own band on such labels as Blue Note and ECM.  He also appeared on a handful of rock albums, most notably those by Lou Reed and Ian Dury.  Don Cherry died of liver failure due to hepatitis at the age of 58.  His children include popular musicians, Neneh Cherry and Eagle-Eye Cherry.

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Mu First Part / Mu Second Part - Don Cherry