obituary Archives - ContemporaryJazz.com

Bob Berg Dies

John Hilderbrand — Sun, 08 Dec 2002 04:52:07 +0000

Saxman Bob Berg has passed away. Bob was killed in an automobile accident on Thursday. He was 51. Throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, Bob played in bands with Horace Silver, Miles Davis, and Chick Corea among others. I’m guessing that others reading this have his early 90s, Grammy-nominated release Back Roads. I remember Bob’s strong tenor sound and am sorry to read this news.

Bob is survived by his wife, two children, brother, and mother. For more details, read the New York Times obituary.

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Obituary: Nick Webb

John Hilderbrand — Fri, 06 Feb 1998 06:00:12 +0000

Guitarist and composer Nick Webb, a founding member of the contemporary jazz group Acoustic Alchemy, died in London Feb. 5, 1998, from cancer, the group’s publicist said. He was 43. Webb, a native of England, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year earlier and, at the time of his death, was finishing work on the Grammy-nominated group’s 10th album, Positive Thinking, publicist David Millman said. “Nick was a sweet, wonderful man and a wonderful friend,” said Webb’s chief collaborator, Greg Carmichael, who formed Acoustic Alchemy with Webb in 1987. “Though this past year was quite difficult for him, Nick managed to write some of the most beautiful music of his life. If there’s any silver lining, it’s knowing that, ’til the very end, he was doing what he loved and that he was surrounded by his adoring family,” Carmichael said in a statement. Webb’s musical approach had roots in some of the music he discovered growing up, including the English group Pentangle, whose blend of folk, jazz, classical and other influences appealed to him. He believed a similarly eclectic approach could work in an instrumental setting and, in the early 1980s, formed the first version of Acoustic Alchemy, years before the partnership of Webb and Carmichael became internationally known. He is survived by his wife, Kay, and their daughter, Alexandra.

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Obituary: Zachary Breaux 1960-1997

John Hilderbrand — Fri, 21 Feb 1997 15:30:37 +0000

Zachary Charles Breaux died February 20, 1997 after attempting to save a drowning woman in the ocean off Miami Beach. According to the Associated Press, Breaux suffered a heart attack after being brought to shore. The woman also died. Breaux had previously saved a man from drowning, while on tour in Italy in 1988.

Zachary Breaux was born in Port Arthur, Texas. He began playing guitar at the age of 11 after practicing the clarinet for two years. His interest in jazz was inspired by his high school band director. He majored in Music Composition at North Texas State University, where he enjoyed listening to Wes Mongomery, Charlie Christian, and Dizzy Gillespie. He played with musicians such as Noel Pointer, Ronnie Laws, Jon Lucien, and most notably Roy Ayers, which whom Breaux would perform through 1993 when he decided to embark on a solo career. Breaux’s playing was brought to the attention of NYC Records president Mike Mainieri, who promptly asked Breaux to contribute a track to the Beatles guitar tribute album he was releasing. Mainieri released Breaux’s first two solo albums on NYC. The first, released in 1993, was an album recorded at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London. Groovin’ featured Breaux originals and compositions by other writers, as well as an acid jazz version of John Coltrane’s “Impressions.” The follow-up album, Laid Back, was released the following year. Breaux had recently resurfaced on Zebra Records, where his album, Uptown Groove, has been performing very well.

Mainieri had said of Breaux, “I’ve personally had the pleasure of performing with Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell and George Benson, and Zachary’s own ‘voice’ on the guitar keeps the lineage alive with eloquence and passion.”

Zachary Breaux is survived by his wife, Frederica, and three daughters, ages 14, 12 and 6, as well as six brothers and sisters and his parents.

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