The Final Chorus

Cleo Laine, a British jazz singer whose voice shaped British jazz and standards singing, passed away on July 24th in Wavendon, England. She was 97.

Tom Lehrer, the pianist and musical satirist whose sharp-witted songs blended ragtime, Tin Pan Alley, and musical theater, passed away on July 26th in Cambridge,

Robert “Bob” Rann, renowned tubaist and a foundational figure in the traditional jazz revival movement, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2025, at the age

John Cocuzzi, a vibraphonist, pianist, and drummer, well known to jazz party attendees, passed away on June 12, 2025, at 61. A Maryland native, Cocuzzi

Arthur Hamilton, the gifted songwriter best known for the classic jazz ballad “Cry Me a River,” died on May 20th. He claims to have never

Johnny Parth, founder of Document Records, died May 18, 2025, in Vienna, Austria, at 95. His label rescued pre-1943 jazz, blues, and gospel from obscurity,

George “Doc” Ryan, passed away on May 8, 2025, in Arkansas, just shy of his 96th birthday. Known for lyrical cornet playing and a charismatic

Edward Grogan passed away on April 5th; he was 98 years old. Born in Bolton, England, he was an officer of the Royal Navy during

Alvin Maurice Gotlieb passed away on April 6th; he was 84. He grew up in a musical family that had an informal family band. He

Jitka Vrbova passed away on March 3rd; she was 84. A notable Czech vocalist, guitarist and sometimes actress she sang for Pražský Dixieland, Hot Jazz

Don Cantwell, beloved Central New York teacher and leader of the Clef Dwellers, passed away April 21, 2025, at the age of 100. Don was

Devoted Ragtimer Jack Rummel passed away on March 10th. Born in Tacoma Washington in 1939, he spent most of his musical life in Colorado but

Lawrence Henry Ketchens II passed away on January 31, 2025; he was 61. A beloved figure in New Orleans, with his wife Doreen Ketchens he

David Johansen passed away on February 28th; he was 75. Johanson got his start doing sound and lights for Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theater Company and

Trombonist and banjo player Frank Demond died on November 21st; he was 91. Born in Los Angeles he would at one time be the only

Photographer and clarinetist William “Bill” Carter died on New Year’s Day; he was 90 years old. His photography books varied in subject from Iraqi Kurds

Boston area trumpet player Paul Fontaine passed away January 11. From his published obituary: Paul’s career spanned many years, starting as a student studying trumpet

New York area bassist Joel Forbes died on December 27th; he was 68. His father, also known as Joel Forbes, was a jazz pianist in

New Orleans saxophonist John “Prince” Gilbert died on December 15th; he was 66 years old. He was an original member of the Rebirth Brass Band.

Santa Barbara-area ragtimer Kathi Backus died in early January; she was 79. A well known figure in the California ragtime community she played regularly at

Singer, saxophonist, songwriter, magician, puppeteer, and all around entertainer Danny Bacher passed away unexpectedly on December 16th; he was only 46. Bacher worked at many

Martial Solal died on December 12th; he was 97. The Algeria-born French pianist had been active in Europe since the 1950s. He performed with Django