The Final Chorus

Claus Jacobi, a reedman, arranger, scholar of jazz history, and for the last decade the music director of Mike Durham’s Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party

Robert Bruce “Bob” Butters trombonist for the Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band and other groups in the Ohio area passed away, he was 94. The following

Joel Schiavone, founder of the Your Father’s Mustache chain of venues for banjo bands and traditional jazz, died on April 22nd, he was 87. Starting

Michael Cuscuna, co-founder of Mosaic Records, passed away on April 20, 2024, he was 75. Already a jazz buff in childhood, by 14 he was

Vladimir Feiertag (December 27th, 1931 – March 28th, 2024) The Russian jazz writer started out as a pianist, co-authored the first monograph about jazz in

Antoni Krupa (March 23rd, 1945 – March 17th, 2024) The Polish guitarist/banjoist and harmonica player was a member of the Jazz Band Ball Orchestra and

Albert “Tootie” Heath (May 31st, 1935 – April 3rd, 2024) The drummer and 2021 NEA Jazz Master, was the last surviving member of a legendary jazz

Bill Logozzo, leader of the Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band in Connecticut, passed away on March 10th. He was 86. He took up drums at 45

Donald Heneberry passed away on April 9th. He was 93. At high school and college dances, he sang two part harmony with his twin brother

The Jazz world has lost a lifelong contributor to the celebration and preservation of Jazz. Laurie Whitlock spent many long hours volunteering with the most

Well known Seattle saxophonist Bill Ramsay died on  March 3rd, he was 95. He was a founding member of the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra in

Prominent New Orleans drummer Kerry “Fatman” Hunter was killed by a drunk driver while walking near the corner of Claiborne and Elysian Fields on Mardi

Steve Lawrence, of Steve & Eydie, has died at 88. The son of a Jewish cantor his own professional singing career began when we was

Rocky Giglio, who died on February 8th at 86, began playing in his hometown, Utica, New York, in the Thomas Proctor High School band and

Trombonist Bill Allred died on February 1st at 87. He was one of the largest figures of his generation in classic jazz and leaves a

Forrest Helmick, trumpet player and founder of the Blue Street Jazz Band, died at home on December 29th. He was 66 years old. He was

Chicago area saxophonist/clarinetist Ron Dewar died on January 4th, he was 82. Dewar had a long association with the University of Illinois Jazz Band as

Visual artist Robert Andrew Parker died on December 27th at age 96. Among an extensive body of work he painted record covers for labels including

Steve Caddick passed away on November 5th, he was 73 years old. He spent his last day singing his favorite songs surrounded by his family.

Chicago based jazz bassist John Bany died on 5 November 2023, he was 81. He was the fifth in a generational family legacy of bassists

Manfred “Manni” Selchow died on November 5th, he was 87. While he was a good enough pianist to earn a scholarship, Manfred Selchow quickly realized

Two weeks ago in a conversation about the blues, I pulled up our profile of Norman Vickers to illustrate his story of watching a forgotten