Michael J. West

Guitarist Russell Malone had been performing in Tokyo with bassist Ron Carter's Golden Striker Trio when he suffered a massive heart attack. His death on Aug. 23, at 60, has left the jazz world in sadness and shock.

A dedicated archivist, Michael Cuscuna had more than 2,600 album credits as a producer, most of them archival reissues, and many involving the Blue Note catalog. He died on 75 in Stamford, Conn.

Famous for starting a riot, Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' also started a conversation — one that contemporary pianists Sylvie Courvoisier and Cory Smythe are more than happy to engage with on their bold new album.

As an improviser, on piano and vibraphone, and as co-founder of the Creative Music Studio, Karl Berger had an outsize influence on the jazz avant-garde. He died on April 9, at 88.