Michael Cuscuna has died at 75

[J.A.W.]

Just heard the terrible news that Michael Cuscuna has died - Joe Harley posted this: Michael Cuscuna RIP

[JSngry]

Oh dear...what a contribution. He will be sorely missed.

Condolences to family and friends, especially the ones here.

 

[tranemonk]

18 minutes ago, J.A.W. said:

Just heard the terrible news that Michael Cuscuna has died - Joe Harley posted this: Michael Cuscuna RIP

Oh... that sucks... I don't even know what to say.... Awful.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I knew his chances of survival were slim, but I was hoping he would pull through this. Damn. He was such a nice guy. I will miss him a lot.

Cancer sucks.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

During one of my visits to Stamford many years ago, Michael gave me this poster as a joke. He signed it, "To Kevin - Thanks for keeping me off the web". He was such a wiseass.

[sidewinder]

I'm shocked and so saddened to read this, we owe him so much. A life very well lived - RIP.

 

Edited April 21, 2024 by sidewinder

[Brad]

He’s irreplaceable. His contribution is immeasurable. RIP. 

[jazzbo]

I have fond memories of interviewing him on the phone for a few hours, a joy to talk to, a cherished achievement of mine. RIP Michael, you were one of a kind.

[ghost of miles]

So very sad to hear this. Going to take awhile to process this one. Talked to him on the phone a few times and did a long interview with him for a Night Lights program—he was very supportive of the show in general. Hard to imagine what the jazz record landscape of the 1970s through the 2000s would look like without his presence. (Especially the Blue Note part.)

Edited April 21, 2024 by ghost of miles

[clifford_thornton]

Wow, what sad news. Condolences to those who knew him, and much appreciation.

[Mark Stryker]

Blue Note Records  has confirmed that Cuscuna has died at age 75. Damn. He was a hero and a mensch. I had many interactions with Michael over the years and cherish them all. I always learned something from him. He supported my work and made it possible for me to use several Francis Wolff images in “Jazz from Detroit,” including the cover. A HUGE loss.

[Eric]

He had an immense impact on my love of jazz since the early '80s. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and his friends here.

[pglbook]

Terrible news. A true legend.

Thanks for all you did for jazz, music, and culture in general. You truly made this world a better place.

RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

 

 

[jazztrain]

RIP Michael. He leaves quite a legacy. 

[colinmce]

One of one. The history of recorded jazz music as we know it today would be incalculably different without his contributions. RIP. 

[Adam]

Blue Note just tweeted the news.  Such a vitally important person to the music.

[mjzee]

Terrible, terrible news.  When I went to that first Mosaic open house (5 years ago?), I noticed that Cuscuna smoked cigarettes; maybe that's how he got that radio voice.  What a huge positive contribution to jazz music and life in general.  RIP.

[BFrank]

Didn't have any personal relationship with him, but I always highly respected him for his dedication to the music.

A giant loss for the jazz world 

[HutchFan]

Terrible news.

R.I.P.

 

[GA Russell]

RIP.  He was a very big fish in the pond for over fifty years!

[mhatta]

Sad news, but I think he lived a full life.  Rudy Van Gelder once said in an interview or something that he considered himself a messenger of jazz, and Cuscuna has been (at least to a generation like me who did not experience the golden age of modern jazz in real time) also a great messenger of jazz.  RIP.

[Guy Berger]

Dang.

One of the most important non-musicians in jazz over the past 50 years.

[Ken Dryden]

Michael Cuscuna made a huge contribution even before he formed Mosaic Records with the late Charlie Lourie. His many accomplishments and success in creating some of the most treasured boxed sets in jazz history will be a great legacy.

He died far too young at 75.

 

[felser]

RIP, grew up through my late teen years with his presence here in the Philly area, then thrilled to his work with Impulse!, Blue Note, Arista, Mosaic.  He did so much to get the music out to us.

Edited April 21, 2024 by felser

[John L]

Very sad