Obituaries

The Grammy-winning musician, whose hit “Mas Que Nada” helped make him a global ambassador for Brazilian music, died after months battling the effects of long COVID.

Over the course of seven decades, Morgenstern helmed major jazz magazines, wrote books, produced concerts, won multiple Grammys, taught college and oversaw one of the world's largest jazz archives.

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.

Prior to his death, a benefit concert was scheduled for September to celebrate his life as he battled an undisclosed illness.

The songleader, civil rights activist and scholar died Tuesday at the age of 81.

"Overall, I am most interested in telling stories," Homer Jackson, director of the Philadelphia Jazz Project, once explained. Since his passing on July 13, Philly's cultural scene is left to remember him as one of its most devoted connectors and chroniclers.

With his sterling technique, grounded by a warmly centered tone, Jim Rotondi brought a level-headed calm to the role of a trumpet hero. He died on July 7 at 61.

The adult contemporary star, who became a reluctant giant of smooth jazz in the 1980s, died on Sunday after a six-year battle with prostate cancer.

Davis led the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Britain's Glyndebourne Festival, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

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.