The Artists We Lost in 2019

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From jazz pianists and r&b firebrands to avant-garde stalwarts, DownBeat offers a look back at some of the musicians, artists and writers we lost during 2019.

Ginger Baker (1939–2019)

Clora Bryant (1927–2019)

Frank Caruso (1948–2019)

Dr. John (1941–2019)

João Gilberto (1931–2019)

Ira Gitler (1928–2019)

Joseph Jarman (1937–2019)

Michel Legrand (1932–2019)

Harold Mabern (1936–2019)

Ken Nordine (1948–2019)

Larry Willis (1942–2019)



  • Al_Foster_Marketing.jpg

    Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.

  • Branford_Marsalis_by_Mark_Sheldon_copy.jpg

    “Branford’s playing has steadily improved,” says younger brother Wynton Marsalis. “He’s just gotten more and more serious.”

  • Sasha_Berliner_by_Gulnara_Khamatova_copy.jpeg

    “What did I want more of when I was this age?” Sasha Berliner asks when she’s in her teaching mode.

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    Roscoe Mitchell will receive a Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s Vision Festival.

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    Benny Benack III and his quartet took the Midwest Jazz Collective’s route for a test run this spring.


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