Pianist Hod O'Brien R.I.P.

[ghost of miles]

Just received word from a family friend that pianist Hod O'Brien passed away today at the age of 80.  He had been ill with cancer for some time.

[T.D.]

Very sad news. RIP.

When I bought my first O'Brien recording on Reservoir, I was pleasantly shocked to see it was the same guy I recalled from "Three Trumpets", "J R Monterose" and "Guitar Groove", after a long recording hiatus. He became one of my favorite pianists.

Edited November 21, 2016 by T.D.

[Hardbopjazz]

RIP. 

[BillF]

Sad news. Was one of my favorite living pianists.

[Cyril]

Very sad news. He was a great pianist. RIP. 

[soulpope]

R.I.P ....

[felser]

My first intro to  him was that interesting album with Roswell Rudd and Sheila Jordan.  RIP.

[clifford_thornton]

Sad news. RIP.

[JSngry]

RIP

[brownie]

Highly. talented pianist! Sad news...

[alankin]

More sad news...  A very fine pianist.  (I highly recommend his three "Live at Blues Alley" CDs on Reservoir with Ray Drummond and Kenny Washington.)  RIP.

Edited November 21, 2016 by alankin

[Peter Friedman]

Very sorry to hear this bad news.

Hod was one of the few actual bebop style jazz pianists still with us.  There was little if any  influence from players such as Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea or McCoy Tyner.  Thankfully Barry Harris and a handful of other beboppers are still playing.  

[king ubu]

Enjoyed his playing wherever he popped up, from Sal Salvador to J.R. Monterose and a couple of his own discs.

r.i p.

[six string]

I don't have any by him as a leader but I have some albums with him playing piano including that JR Monterose album.  I need to fix that.  Those Live At Blues Alley recordings sound like a good place to start.  R.I.P.

Edited November 21, 2016 by six string

[BillF]

10 hours ago, six string said:

I don't have any by him as a leader but I have some albums with him playing piano including that JR Monterose album.  I need to fix that.  Those Live At Blues Alley recordings sound like a good place to start.  R.I.P.

Recommended:

[six string]

Thanks for the recommemdation BillF.  I still haven't figured out which album he plays on as a sideman that I have.

 

 

[Justin V]

On 11/22/2016 at 1:29 AM, BillF said:

Recommended:

I picked this up after hearing the news of his passing, and it's my first album led by him.  Like his work as a sideman that I've heard, I've enjoyed it.  Speaking of O'Brien's sideman work, I have to listen to Ted Brown's excellent Free Spirit soon.  Thank you for the music, Mr. O'Brien, and rest in peace.

[alankin]

Going further back, O'Brien is on Roswell Rudd's 1974 LP "Flexible Flyer".

[clifford_thornton]

New (old) one coming out in early 2017 with Sal Nistico and John Engels, Jr. recorded live in '86. Smokin'.