An extensive list of international esteemed jazz, blues and “creative music” instrumentalists, singers and adherents of those arts who died in 2019. Compiled for the Jazz Journalists Association from sources including local newspapers, the Jazzinstitut Darmstadt newsletter, AllAboutJazz.com, Wikipedia, the New York Times, Legacy.com, Rolling Stone, Variety, JazzTimes.com, blogs, listserves, Facebook pages and European publications. Links to the deceaseds’ fuller biographies or obituaries are provided where possible. * denotes NEA Jazz Master.
ESPECIALLY NOTABLE: ED BICKERT, CLORA BRYANT, JIM CULLUM, JOÃO GILBERTO, JJA Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism honoree IRA GITLER, JOSEPH JARMAN,
DR. JOHN, KIYOSHI “BOXMAN” KOYAMA, MICHEL LEGRAND, HAROLD MABERN, GEORGE MASSO, ART NEVILLE, KEN NORDINE, ANDRE PREVIN, LEON REDBONE, DAVE SAMUELS, JACK SHELDON, MARY ANN TOPPER, BOB WILBER, LARRY WILLIS
Accordionists Marcel Azzola, Mihály Tabányi; accordionist, pianist and saxophonist Al Warner.
Bandleader, composer, arranger and pianist Ib Glindemann; bandleader, trombonist and educator Jean-Marc Lemaire.
Banjo players Gavin Belton, Bobby Day; banjo player, guitarist and singer Bud Black; banjo player and bandleader (Jelly Roll Jazz Band) Ted Shafer.
Bassists Jeff Andrews, Skip Beckwith, Frank de la Rosa, Bira do Jô (Ubirajara Penacho dos Reis), Bill Folwell, Michel Gaudry, Fred Hunter, Donald Jackson, Doug Lubahn, Clifford Murphy, Billy Pillucere, Eddie Piper, Frank Pullara, Tetsu Saitō, Frank Savarese, Willliam Slapin, Bruce Yaw; bassist and educator Lisle Atkinson; bassist, guitarist, tuba player
and broadcaster Harry Harman; bassist and producer Ruud Jacobs; bassists and singers Bob Damon, Wilen Tokarew; bassist, arts administrator and jazz programmer (Smithsonian, Louis Armstrong House) Julian Euell; bassist, promoter, Polish Jazz Federation president, club co-operator (Krakow’s Helikon Club), and publicist Jan Byrczek; bassist and photographer Ellen Powell.
Bassoonist, bassist and educator James L. Mason.
Cellist, conductor and educator Peter Brown.
Clarinetists Jim Beatty, Frank Casty, Tom Duncan, Jerry Fuller, Tony Palumbo, Roy Pellett, Jerry Senfluk, Sol Yaged; clarinetist, composer, musicologist and educator Gino Stefani; clarinetist and record executive (Capitol, Decca) Tippy Morgan; clarinetist, instrument maker and writer Gustav Arne Kramer.
Composers Jonathan Goldstein, Jerry Herman, Gershon Kingsley; composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator and pianist Stanley Applebaum; composer and percussionist Michael Colgrass; composer and orchestrator Sid Ramin.
Cornetist Allan Kennedy Colter; cornetist and bandleader Jim Cullum Jr.; cornetist, educator and French Quarter Festival co-founder Connie Jones; cornetist and Uptown Lowdown trad jazz band founder Bert Barr.
Norma Miller, Wikipedia commons
Dancer Norma Miller (a lindy hopper).
Drummers José Anahory, Ginger Baker, Hal Blaine, Jerry Carrigan, Cris Criscitiello, Bob Dekker, Atilla Engin, Alvin Fielder, Walther Großrubatscher, Lawrence Leathers, Zezé Ngambi, Sergei Ostroumov, Cleve Pozar, Robbie Scott, Horst Seidelmann, “Farmer Bill” Thayer, Paolo Vinaccia; drummer and percussionist Ramon Banda; drummer and percussionist Raul Padro; drummer, composer, record label founder (Dreambox Media), jazz advocate, JJA Jazz Hero and writer Jim Miller; drummer, saxophonist and educator Chris Johnson; drummer, photographer and jazz producer (Halifax, Canada, Jazz Festival) Artie Irwin; drummer and photographer Tito Villalba; drummer, big band leader, filmmaker, photographer, producer and jazz club co-owner (Munich, Germany’s Spectacle) Peter Wortmann; drummer, club founder (London’s East Side Jazz Club) and educator Clive Fenner; drummer, talent agent, artist manager, producer and club owner (Los Angeles’ Strip City, Jazz City, The Crescendo and Avant Garde) Maynard Sloate; drummers and educators Fred Buda, Kenny Reed, Dave Wickins.
Educator Tom Beckwith, educator, composer and arranger Allan M. Wright.
French hornist Brooks Tillotson.
Guitarists John Anthony, Vinnie Bell, Ed Bickert, Harold Bradley, Paul Carey, Todd Duke, Eddie Duran, Boon Gould, George Hanepen, Jiří Jirmal, Vic Juris, Johnny Lambizzi, Oliver Mtukudzi, Christoph Oeding, Reggie Young; guitarist and bandleader Mose Se Sengo (aka Mose Fan Fan); guitarist and composer Martin Böttcher; guitarist and pianist Justin Haynes; guitarist and saxophonist Ralf Benesch; guitarist, singer, songwriter and bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto;
guitarist and singer Jean van den Berg; guitarist and educator Peter Prisco; guitarist and producer Bob Aves; guitarist and writer Davey Williams; guitarist, producer and photographer Romek Hanzlik; guitarist and sound engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug.
Harmonica player and magician Johnny Thompson.
Jazz poet and writer Jules Deelder.
Keyboard players Edwin Birdsong, Ingo Bischof; keyboard player and singer Art Neville.
Kora player Solo Cissokho.
Lyricist, playwright and educator Herbert Martin.
Multi-instrumentalist Mike Cohen; multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Clive Stevens (aka Mystery Man).
Musicologist, composer and educator J.H. Kwabena Nketia; musicologist and harpist Vivian Perlis.
Percussionists Arnold Goldberg, Jack Jennings, Eryk Kulm; percussionist, pianist, composer and arranger Dave Carey; percussionist, bandleader and producer (Indonesia’s Ngayog Jazz Festival) Djaduk Ferianto; percussionist and producer Hossam Ramzy.
Pianists Claes Andersson, Randy Cannon, Barbara Sutton Curtis, Maurice Drouin, Eddy Frankie, Einar Iversen, Greg Kogan, Gianni Lenoci, Mike Markaverich, Tony Monserrat, Christoph Mudrich, Zeke Mullins, Jack Phelan, Harly Rajaobelina, Paul Reid, Lee Russo, Janusz Skowron, Alona Turel, Richard Wyands; pianist, composer and conductor Andre Previn; pianists and composers Bob Kaye, Michel Legrand, Armen Merabov, Ellis Pough, Bob Szajner, Daniel Wayenberg, Larry Willis; pianists and arrangers Jacques Loussier, Phil Mattson; pianist, singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Dr. John (Mac Rebennack); pianist, singer and saxophonist Hugh “Peanuts” Whalum; pianist and bandleader John Hughes; pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, educator, musicologist and writer James Dapogny; pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Les Reed; pianists, composers, arrangers and musical directors Tex Arnold, Milcho Leviev, John Oddo; pianist, composer and writer Andre Asriel; pianist and flutist Joël Vandroogenbroeck; pianist, saxophonist, bandleader and educator Bob Macar; pianist, saxophonist, composer and musical director Geoff Harvey; pianist, trumpeter, musical director and educator Darius Smith; pianist, trombonist, big band leader, composer and arranger Vic Vogel; pianist, composer and actor Grenoldo Frazier; pianist and artist Cal Massey; pianists and singers Ruby Bishop, Frantz “Fanfan” Courtois, Sunny Raye; pianists, composers and educators Harold Mabern,
Stepan Shaqaryan; pianist, singer and educator Debra Mann; pianists and educators Bobby Cardillo, Frank Caruso, Marjorie Crenshaw, Paul Faure, Gary Williamson; pianist, concert producer, historian and writer John Worsley,pianist and broadcaster Willi Bischof.
Saxophonists Spot Barnett, Carlos Barruso, Jimmy Cavallo, Issa Cissokho, Jim Coile, Brooks Coleman, Molly Duncan, Kadri Golpanath, Steve Hooks, Gene Jefferson, Jerry Jumonville, Gary Klein, Rod Kokolj, Ray Kopczyk, Connie Lester, Arno Marsh, Turk Mauro, Joe McQueen, Mike Migliore, Fritz Novotny, Max Pierre, Joe Rigby, Brian Sjoerdinga, Kenny Soderblom, Sy Suchman, Ray Swinfield, Buddy Terry, Eric Traub, Bob Wilber, Ralph Wilcox, Roy Willox; saxophonist, poet, percussionist and AACM founding member Joseph Jarman; saxophonist, percussionist, singer and educator George Delgrosso; saxophonist, pianist and composer Andy Scherrer; saxophonist and trumpeter Chuck Kercher; saxophonists, composers and arrangers Roland Keijser, Duncan Lamont; saxophonist, bandleader and educator Roger Hewitt; saxophonist, composer, educator, JJA Jazz Hero and Boston’s John Coltrane Memorial Concert co-founder Leonard Brown; saxophonist, arranger and educator Ray Santos; saxophonists and educators George Benson, Bob Dransite, Fred Foss, Mickey Golomb, Karlheinz Miklin, Chris Vadala, Irv Williams; saxophonist and painter Robert Ryman; saxophonists and writers Don Albert, Julius Heikkilä.
Singers Ed Battle, José Mário Branco, Annie Brazil, Beth Carvalho, Baby Jane Dexter, Leigh “Little Queenie” Harris, Nancy Holloway, Joe Longthorne,Jacqui Magno, Toni Manieson, Dorothy Masuka, Celia Mur, Carlos Fernando Nogueira, Astrid North, Janet Pagliuca, Shunna Pillay, Reinaldo (Reinoldo Gonçalves Zacarias), Maria Rivas, Mansur Scott, Marina Trost, Wanda Warska, Mayra Caridad Valdés, Saalik Ziyad; singer, songwriter, alto saxophonist, keyboardist and music director Katreese Barnes; singer, bandleader, producer and record executive (EMI, World Records) Chris Ellis; singer and bass guitarist Delores Robinson; singer, songwriter and guitarist Leon Redbone; singer, guitarist and writer Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi; singer and saxophonist Harry Woodward; singer and trumpeter John Amoroso; singers and actors Diahann Carroll, Carol Channing, Doris Day; singer and jazz club owner (Ethel’s Place in Baltimore) Ethel Ennis; singer and educator Faith Winthrop; singer and broadcaster Elton Medeiros.
Songwriter, artist and art director Allee Willis.
Trombonists Roy Brewer Jr., Ken Hunsley, Christian Kellens, Joe Lentino, Garrett List, Paul Munnery,Leopoldo Pineda, Danny Repole, John Sanders, Jack Schnupp, Daldumar Roberto Vieira (Mazinho do Trombone); trombonist and bassist Bill Evans; trombonist, vibraphonist, composer, arranger, bandleader and educator George Masso; trombonist and violinist Lewis Kahn; trombonists, arrangers and educators Reppard Stone, Jim Wyckoff; trombonist, broadcaster and writer Erling Wicklund.
Trumpeters Danny Barber, Julio Barbosa, James Benford, Ado Broodboom, Clora Bryant, Clifford Buggs, Mike Canonico, Brian Clarke, Dan Collette, Sal Furman, Ike Iacometta, Herbert Joos, German Lukianov, Tom Pletcher, Murray Rothstein, Tony Speranza, Pete Wood; trumpeter, producer, composer and arranger Dave Bartholomew; trumpeter, singer and actor Jack Sheldon; trumpeter, bandleader, composer and arranger Paul Lopez; trumpeter and bandleader Bert Barr; trumpeter, composer and vibraphonist Geoff Nichols; trumpeters, composers and educators Gary Barone, Dexter Morrill; trumpeter and composer Urban Koder; trumpeter, recording engineer and educator Joe Hostetter; trumpeter, educator and writer Willie Thomas; trumpeters and educators Larry Harrison, Steve Madaio, Sy Platt, Marcos Antonio Urbay.
Tuba player Bill Taggart; tuba player and singer Earl Mckee; tuba player and educator Sam Pilafian.
Vibraphonists Dave Samuels, Joe Venuto; vibraphonist and percussionist Emil Richards.
Violinist Julai Tan; violinist and composer Ramsey Ameen.
Jazz club co-owner (New York’s Sweet Basil and Lush Life), label owner (44 Records), producer, promoter and painter Horst Liepolt; jazz club owner (New Orleans’ Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro) and Storyville Stompers brass band grand marshal Wesley Schmidt; jazz club owner (Braunschweig, Germany’s Jazz-Kneipe Baßgeige) Norbert “Bolle” Bolz; jazz club founder and director (Paris’s New Morning) Eglal Farhi; jazz club co-owner (Paul’s Mall and The Jazz Workshop in Boston), artistic director (Tanglewood Jazz Festival and Scullers Jazz Club), concert producer, promoter and JJA Jazz Hero Fred Taylor; producer, broadcaster and writer Kiyoshi “Boxman” Koyama; producer and photographer Ralph Jungheim; concert producer, John W. Coltrane Society co-founder and “Cousin Mary” inspiration Mary Lyerly Alexander; Brownsville TX Latin Jazz Festival founder, performing arts champion and broadcaster George Ramirez; promoters Nathaniel Holmes Morrison III, Wolfgang Orth, Anders Stefanson; vintage film preservationist Ron Hutchinson.
Record company founder and producer (DRG) and writer Hugh Fordin; record producer, label founder (SRI), promoter, writer, personal manager and guitarist Shelly Liebowitz; record label owner (Criss Cross Jazz) and drummer Gerry Teekens; record label head (Warner Bros, Elektra, Capitol) and writer Joe Smith; record producer, promoter and historian Jacques Morgantini; record producer (Tempo) and writer Tony Hall; recording executive (Capitol Records in Brazil and Warner Latin America) and producer André Midani; recording engineer, label co-founder (Telarc), trumpeter and educator Jack Renner; record executive (Warner Bros.), artist manager and bassist Gary LeMel; publicist and record executive (Concord, Monarch Records), concert producer and artist manager Merrilee Trost; San Francisco Bay- area record store owner (Berigan’s Records and Vagabond Jazz LPs) Berigan Taylor; artist manager, producer and educator Mary Ann Topper;
artist manager and producer Lupe De Leon; concert producer Al Quiñones; producer and discographer Manfred Scheffner; artistic director (Halkidiki, Greece’s Sani Festival) Olga Tabouris-Babalis.
Album cover designer, illustrator and photographer Roslaw Szaybo.
Broadcasters John Bohannon, Chuck Cecil, Mike Dawson, Jeff Duperon, Harold Ehlers, Bob Houlihan, Bo Leibowitz, Mesh Mapetla, Yves Prefontaine, Gary Shivers, Bob Slade, Tony Soley, Radames “Mike” Villafañe; broadcaster and Word Jazz originator Ken Nordine; broadcaster, jazz archivist, record collector and dealer (G’s Jazz) Gary Alderman; broadcaster, congressman, jazz advocate and JJA Jazz Hero John Conyers.
Music licensing executive (SESAC) Stephen Swid.
Photographers Lenny Bernstein, Robert Freeman, David Sinclair, Guy Webster.
Writers Chris Albertson, Ray Comiskey, Barbara Gardner, Reiner Kobe, Rainer Köhl, Scott Timberg, Nick Tosches; writer, editor, historian, producer, educator and NEA Jazz Master Ira Gitler; writer, editor and publisher (New York Latino) Alfredo Alvarado; writer, broadcaster and producer André Francis; writer and broadcaster Larry Englund; writer and lyricist Jane Lankes Vollmer; writer and jazz poet Steve Dalachinsky;
writer, broadcaster, promoter and producer Nonito Pereira Revuelta; writer and photographer Paul Howard Nelson.
Blues, gospel and R&B artists, and industry figures Earl Bernhardt, Spencer Bohren, Earl “Good Rockin’” Brown, Kofi Burbridge, George “Pops” Chambers, Tony Glover, Henry “Blues Boy” Hubbard, James Ingram, Lisa Kindred, Clydie King, Sleepy LaBeef, Jerry Lawson, Mike Ledbetter, Clancy “Blues Boy” Lewis, Cash McCall, Quintus McCormick, Clay McMurray, Willie Murphy, Ronnie Peterson, Julian Piper, Gary Sappier, Jackie Shane, Bill Sims Jr., Paul “Lil Buck” Sinegal, Eddie Taylor Jr., Beverly Watkins, Marva Whitney, Andre Williams. .
