You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'obituary' category.
I wrote the following about ex Kraftwerk/Neu!/La Dusseldorf drummer Klaus Dinger a few years ago in another place: “whilst Kraftwerk were rehearsing for a TV show, Klaus got into this ridiculous groove and couldn’t get out; three decades later he is still there”.
Well, he isn’t there any more. Tribute from ex-colleague Michael Rother here.
The great jazz cull of 2007 continues apace. I’ve just heard that the legendary drummer Max Roach has died at the age of 83. Full obit from the new York Times here, while Darcy James Argue collates the thoughts of the blogosphere. Some suitable listening over at Destination-Out; I for one have been listening with heavy heart this morning to M’Boom and the still incredibly powerful after all these years We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (I swear I nearly wept during the “Prayer/Protest/Peace” triptych).
The greats of jazz have been dropping at an alarming rate this year. I only mentioned him in passing last week (re Nels Cline’s tribute album from last year) but have been saddened today to hear about the passing of the extremely influential pianist Andrew Hill over the weekend.
His run of fine albums for Blue Note in the 1960s, while not elevating Hill to the position of a Monk or a Tyner at the time, have belatedly come to be recognised as out and out classics: Point of Departure garners most of the plaudits, but Andrew!!! and Black Fire remain personal favourites, as does Compulsion! (see Destination Out for more on that release), as does the Bobby Hutcherson / Hill date Dialogues, and even the lesser-known Lift Every Voice’s kooky choral jazz has some stellar moments - try “Hey Hey” - and, well I could go on. I read a typically impressive and impassioned personal tribute to Hill from Hank over at the redoubtable Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches recently, to which I humbly direct you for further reading and listening…this is a “Black Monday” indeed. *Post-script - A few more words from Hank here*
I’ve just heard the news that Alice Coltrane has died. I’m quite distraught by this. An amazing human being who managed the near-impossible task of stepping out from the colossal shadow cast by her late husband, producing a run of albums in the 1970s (Ptah, World Galaxy, Universal Consciousness, A Monastic Trio, Journey In Satchidananda, Huntingdon, Lord Of Lords) which demonstrated amply the reasons for John’s faith in her abilities.
Lord, help her to be.
Recent Comments