Sam Rivers RIP

[david weiss]

Though not confirmed I've heard that Sam Rivers has passed away.

This is a huge loss, to me he was one of the greatest ever.

[JSngry]

Well, shit.

Sam was a true original. Nothing but maximum love for him here, ever.

RIP, Sam Rivers, and know that you were heard loudly, clearly, and joyfully.

[Van Basten II]

Not found a link but Wikipedia seems to confirm, great loss indeed. RIP

[John L]

:( RIP

[BFrank]

[mjzee]

Shocking. A great loss. RIP.

[clifford_thornton]

Oh my god.

RIP.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

I saw him one time in concert. RIP

[Chalupa]

I was fortunate to see him perform live about 6 or 7 years ago. He was still bringing it. RIP.

Edited December 27, 2011 by J.H. Deeley

[Adam]

RIP. Saw him a couple of times with his trio at the Jazz Bakery several years ago - they were magnificent.

Ah, hell. One of the great, always creative.

[brownie]

This one really hurts!

Heard him and met him several times (when he played with Cecil Taylor and at Rivbea).

A great musician and a gentleman!

He will be missed...

[Gheorghe]

He was such a great musician.

I love his BlueNote albums as a leader and sideman with Tony Williams and saw him live in 1980 with his trio, and later I was quite astonished to see him together with Diz. He was a highly individual player.

I think he was a kind of mentor to Tony Williams and it was Tony who got Miles to use Sam Rivers for the Japan tour, where they recorded live.

[GA Russell]

His album Sizzle for Impulse! in the mid-70s is the only free jazz album I've truly enjoyed. RIP.

[jeffcrom]

The death of an 88-year-old can't really be considered shocking, but it did seem like Sam Rivers just might live forever, playing music for all time. A sad goodbye to one of my real heroes.

[7/4]

Sad news in the middle of the night, I'm hours from home. I've been thinking about Sam lately, I'll have to dig out everything I own this week and listen to it...WKCR is in the middle of Bach fest, so probably no memorial broadcast until after new years.

RIP Sam Rivers.

[brownie]

Sam Rivers playing with the Cecil Taylor Unit (Cecil Taylor, Jimmy Lyons, Rivers and Andrew Cyrille at the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence, France, in July 1969.

A photo I took during one of the concerts:

[clifford_thornton]

Great photo, brownie!

Yeah, a musician that it took me some time to really appreciate but I think the best music often doesn't hit you right away.

[Indestructible!]

A brilliant, beautiful, genuine soul... I saw him play many times, and each time he showed how powerful and inspirational (yet humble) a gentleman he was.

RIP Sam, and may your spirit continue to soar.

[Clunky]

RIP. thought he might go on forever. Some great music

[sidewinder]

Dreadful news. All I can say is that I am glad that I got the chance to attend a couple of his gigs, to meet him and have a nice chat. He was enthusiastic, endearingly modest and friendly. Just watching him pack up his many instruments in their cases with immaculate attention to detail spoke volumes. RIP Mr Rivers and I will play some of your landmark LPs today.

[JohnS]

Sad news, a real original. Did get to see him a few years ago.

[romualdo]

One of my favourites - love his work.

He was creating great material right into his 80's.

Only had his recent Mosaic Select Big Band set on the other day.

[CJ Shearn]

Damn........ Love the BN's and Miles in Tokyo is one of my fav. records due to Sam's contribution

[P.L.M]

RIP, Sam. I was glad to have seen you one last time with the Jason Moran trio few years ago. You were one of my favorite, you know.

[Christiern]

As Jeff points out, the passing of someone at age 88 should not come as a shock, but that does not lessen the loss. Sam Rivers was a musician whose work I came to admire greatly. His legacy will be a living reminder of his creative spirit.

Resting in peace is something we all eventually do—whether we want to, or not.