For remembrances grouped by month as they ran in the print edition, including all entries prior to April 2018, look in the Final Chorus Archive, individual past issues, or use the search feature.
Jim Roberson, June 4, of pulmonary thrombosis, in California. He loved and played music for over sixty years, most recently with Dr. Bach and the
Collette Black, 63, on June 5th, of breast cancer. She was a force in the New York City Cabaret community. Recently she taught Exploring Cabaret
Dick Serocki, 60, May 13th, of cancer, in Bellport, NY. While in California he played banjo at festivals with The South Burgundy Street Jazz Band,
He was the best musical import America ever received from Liverpool. In 1957, while still training for his day job in telecommunications, he formed The Druids Jazz Band. They became the house band at The Cavern, a basement jazz club in Liverpool.
Brooks Kerr, 66, April 28 in New York City. Duke Ellington once told a group of students “If you have any questions about my music
Bob Byler, 87, passed away on April 28th in Venice Florida. He was a traditional jazz superfan who was well respected in the Dixieland community
Charles Neville, 79, April 26 in Massachusetts. The second oldest of the Neville Brothers, played saxophone for the band that commingled all the native strains
Bob Dorough, 94, April 23 in Mt. Bethel, PA. Noticing a talent for music his father, a bread truck driver in Texarkana, made an arrangement
James Caine, 91, April 11 on the Isle of Man. A pianist and radio personality known as the father of jazz on the Isle of
Stan Reynolds, 92, April 16 in Britain. He started playing trumpet with his father’s band at 12 and touring at age 14. After the war
Bill Reid, 84, in England. Before his primary career as a music promoter began in the early 1960’s he was a double bass and tuba
Nathan Davis, 81, April 9 in Florida. Founder of the University of Pittsburgh’s Jazz Studies program and it’s director from 1969-2013. Born in Kansas City
Gyula Babos, 66, on April 12, in Hungary. Composer, teacher and smooth jazz guitarist whose career began when he won a jazz competition on Hungarian
Alexander Erpilev, 57, April 25th, in Aschersleben Germany. He was an orchestra conductor in his native Russia before moving to Germany in 2000 and turning his
EVERETT “EV” FAREY, 88, April 4, Novato CA. In the 50’s he was co-leader of the Bay City Jazz Band, led the Golden State Jazz
JIM LAVERONI, 64, March 28, Rohnert Park, CA. A drummer with The Black Tuesday Jazz Band, The Flying Eagle Jazz Band and the Swing and
JOSEPH KERACHER, 100, in Attalla, AL. He met his wife through the G.I. Josie program while stationed at Camp Sibert, near Gadsden Alabama in 1941.
CECIL TAYLOR, 89, April 5th, in Brooklyn, NY. A pioneer of free jazz known for the physicality of his piano approach. He pushed the limits
JERZY STANISLAW MILIAN, 82, March 7 in Poland. After graduating from the State high School of Music at 16 he was taught at the East
AUDREY MORRIS, 89, April 1, In Chicago. A pianist and singer who caught the ear of well known jazz men and the eye of Hollywood
OLLY WILSON, 80, March 12, in Oakland, CA. After performing as a teenage jazz musician enamored by Miles Davis and Charlie Parker he turned his
BUELL NEIDLINGER, 82, March 16, Widbey Island Washington. Famous for his work with Cecil Taylor, he also made contributions to free jazz and worked with
ALBERT “SAX” BERRY, 87, February 18, in Philadelphia. After being honorably discharged from the service in 1949 he pursued a career as a jazz saxophonist.
ERROL BUDDLE, 89, February 22, in Australia. Continuously prominent in the Australian Jazz scene since the 1940s, his first instruments were banjo and mandolin, though
