Charlie Haden R.I.P.

[Chuck Nessa]

Charlie was an amazing musician and sometimes he was not a nice guy. He could be a complete asshole at times and that does not diminish his stature. That is more than enough for a fond farewell.

[CJ Shearn]

RIP Charlie. this one is tough...... He could play anything, and that bass tone was gorgeous.

[johnblitweiler]

Emerging in a period when so many players seemed preoccupied with bringing the "new music" to the bass--and this is no slight on other greats like Peacock, Grimes, and LaFaro, for three--Haden always struck me as an anachronism, bringing the bass to the music.

This is the very best description of what Charlie Haden did. Surely that's why Ornette loved him. A lot of Charlie's playing was pure Wilbur Ware, and he admitted it.

Re Chuck's comment -- Charlie was some interesting guys but I don't believe he was evil, like Getz and some other junkies.

[paul secor]

I knew he wasn't well, but wasn't expecting to read this.

Thank you, Mr. Haden.

[Leeway]

A long and inspired creative life, there at some of the key moments in the history of jazz. Thank and RIP.

[porcy62]

Charlie Haden is one of those players that pushed me into jazz. R.I.P.

[colinmce]

Like several of you have said, Charlie Haden was-- along with Eric Dolphy, Ahmad Jamal, Paul Chambers, Andrew Hill, Tony Williams, and Richard Davis-- one of the players that first gripped me early in my jazz listening. For me, it was "Street Woman" off of Science Fiction. The thing he did there was sort of a trademark move of his, that descending, strummy thing, but on first hearing it kind of blew my mind. His playing on "Peace" and "Ramblin'" and "Lonely Woman" and so many others... it expanded my notion of what music could be, really did. He really helped move the ball forward and for that we should all be grateful. Rest well.

[CJ Shearn]

I love the (to my knowledge anyway), the uncharacteristic funk playing on one track of Joe Henderson's "The Elements". Then of course the "Old Joe Clark" thing that happens in "Two Folk Songs" on Metheny's "80/81". His playing on Trane's "The Avant Garde".

Edited July 12, 2014 by CJ Shearn

[xybert]

Law Years from Science Fiction... I think that was what opened my ears to Haden and is still a go to track. Sorry to hear of his passing.

[jlhoots]

Loved his playing.

R.I.P.

[Milestones]

Bad news. I had been hearing stuff for awhile about him being in bad shape, but still one hates to hear such news.

I was a fan from the Ornette days, then was so pleased to see him find success as solo artist. The Quartet West stuff was often exquisite. The duo album with Metheny...I wish there had been at least one more. The amazing trio of Charlie-Bill Frisell-Ginger Baker. Also, the two Jarrett albums that came out recently--the second very recently--although actually recorded a few years back. So many great appearances on so many projects and such a diversity of artists.

I feel lucky to have seen charlie Haden once in person--and not very long ago. It was Quartet West and curiously Joe Lovano was subbing in for Ernie Watts. It was a great concert.

R.I.P.

[kh1958]

Too sad. I recollect seeing him live on four occasions--in a quartet led by Joe Henderson (with Al Foster), with Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny and Denardo Coleman, in a duet with Paul Bley, and playing Latin boleros with Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Joe Lovano. The same beautiful sound in four very different settings.

[sidewinder]

Sorry to hear this and very unexpected. I think I just saw him the once - many years ago at Montreal along with Marc Johnson's Bass Desires, as part of a short series of concerts featuring Haden. A fine concert - RIP.

[sgcim]

It's almost impossible to be a jazz listener, and not to have heard CH. RIP

[sonnymax]

Music was such a big part of Haden's life from the very beginning (that's little Charlie sitting on the piano). He contributed so much to the music, and in so doing shared so much with us. May he rest in peace, and may his music continue to enrich our lives.

[niels]

What can I say that hasn't already been mentioned. His records with the Ornette Coleman quartet and his Montreal Tapes sessions are among my very favorite records.

RIP Charlie Haden, another master gone.

[Homefromtheforest]

Listening to my black label Atlantic mono copy of "change of the century"...Ornette was one of my first loves when I got into jazz as a teenager and Charlie Haden was a big factor in these albums.

RIP

[soulpope]

Title says it all.........very sad, RIP

[StarThrower]

Oh DAMN!

This one hurts. Great player, even if some of his recent recordings haven't grabbed me.

Here is an interview I did with him years ago. One of the first few I did. Super nice guy.

Great interview. Thanks!

[Balladeer]

Such sad news. We ve been losing many of the last really great ones during a couple of years. Seems to me like the end of a whole era.

And now Charlie Haden. I loved the way he played and his tone, so natural. I´d like to hint to his Soul Note with Enrico Pieranunzi, Billy Higgins and Chet Baker which is (now the more fittingly) titled. "Silence".

Thank you Charlie Haden for your music.

Edited July 12, 2014 by Balladeer

[JohnS]

Shocked to hear this on BBC Radio news a few minutes ago. A massive loss. Fortunately I did get to see him with Quartet West, Ornette and the Liberation Music Orchestra. All great music.

[mjazzg]

Such a great shame. A phenonemal musician. He played in so many contexts and was always immediately identifiable. I always admired how he seemingly wore his heart on his sleeve either as a player of great romantic themes, his love of LA and most definitely his political stance without losing any integrity.

I'll be playing 'Ballad of the Fallen' today because it was hearing that album that was my first exposure to his music but also my first real exposure to Jazz - thanks Charlie for that introduction.

It's nice to read tributes like Clifford's that mention he was "super nice" to be with at a time like this. I'd always hoped he was.

Silence....

Edited July 12, 2014 by mjazzg

[sidewinder]

Shocked to hear this on BBC Radio news a few minutes ago.

One of the rare times I've heard the main news broadcast actually spend more than a couple of seconds to confirm the artist's significance in jazz and even to play a snippet of one of the duets with Ornette.

[BillF]

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/12/jazz-icon-charlie-haden-dies-at-76

[king ubu]

some more obits:

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-charlie-haden-20140712-story.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/12/arts/music/charlie-haden-influential-jazz-bassist-is-dead-at-76.html