Jan 21, 2025 7:54 PM
Southern California Fires Hit the Jazz Community
Roy McCurdy and his wife had just finished eating dinner and were relaxing over coffee in their Altadena home, when he…
Green rose to prominence in the 1960s, performing with jazz greats such as Charles Mingus, Sonny Stitt and Elvin Jones.
(Photo: Michael Jackson)Vernice “Bunky” Green, the trailblazing alto saxophonist, composer and educator, passed away on March 1 at age 91. Known for his bold harmonic approach and deeply expressive sound, Green was a pioneering figure in modern jazz, influencing generations of musicians with his adventurous improvisation and commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.
Born in Milwaukee on April 23, 1933, Green rose to prominence in the 1960s, performing with jazz greats such as Charles Mingus, Sonny Stitt and Elvin Jones. His early recordings showcased a unique approach to bebop, but it was his later work — marked by angular lines, unconventional phrasing and a forward-thinking harmonic sensibility — that cemented his reputation as an innovator.
Beyond his contributions as a performer, Green was a dedicated educator who profoundly impacted jazz education. He taught at Chicago State University from 1972 to 1989, and in 1990 he took up the directorship of the jazz studies program at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, where he mentored countless students, inspiring them to find their own voices in the ever-evolving world of jazz until his retirement in 2011. He is a past president of the International Association of Jazz Education and was inducted into the IAJE Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2003 Green was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame for Jazz Education. His influence extended far beyond the classroom, as his recordings and performances continued to inspire musicians around the globe.
Despite never achieving mainstream fame, Green remained a musician’s musician, admired for his fearless creativity and deep emotional connection to his instrument. His 1989 session on the Delos label, Healing The Pain, commemorates the death of his parents and was awarded a 5-star rating in DownBeat. Green’s 2006 studio album Another Place also received a 5-star review from DownBeat. His 2008 album Apex, a collaboration with fellow saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, introduced his music to a new generation and reaffirmed his status as one of the most forward-thinking altoists of his time.
Green’s legacy lives on through his recordings, his students and the lasting impact of his innovative spirit. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith “Edie” Green, and is survived by family, friends and the countless students and musicians he inspired. DB
Gerald and John Clayton at the family home in Altadena during a photo shoot for the June 2022 cover of DownBeat. The house was lost during the Los Angeles fires.
Jan 21, 2025 7:54 PM
Roy McCurdy and his wife had just finished eating dinner and were relaxing over coffee in their Altadena home, when he…
“She said, ‘A lot of people are going to try and stop you,’” Sheryl Bailey recalls of the advice she received from jazz guitarist Emily Remler (1957–’90). “‘They’re going to say you slept with somebody, you’re a dyke, you’re this and that and the other. Don’t listen to them, and just keep playing.’”
Feb 3, 2025 10:49 PM
In the April 1982 issue of People magazine, under the heading “Lookout: A Guide To The Up and Coming,” jazz…
The Old Country: More From The Deer Head Inn arrives 30 years after ECM issued the Keith Jarret Trio live album At The Deer Head Inn.
Jan 21, 2025 7:38 PM
Last November, Keith Jarrett, who has not played publicly since suffering two strokes in 2018, greenlighted ECM to drop…
As Ted Nash, left, departs the alto saxophone chair for LCJO, Alexa Tarantino steps in as the band’s first female full-time member.
Mar 4, 2025 1:29 PM
If only because openings for JLCO’s 15 permanent positions appear about as frequently as sub-freezing days on the…
Larry Appelbaum with Wayne Shorter in 2012.
Feb 25, 2025 10:49 AM
Larry Appelbaum, a distinguished audio engineer, jazz journalist, historian and broadcaster, died Feb. 21, 2025, in…
