Death of a UK jazz legend
RIPWe are sorry to hear of the death yesterday of the composer and saxophonist Barbara Thompson, whose fame and inspiration spread across many genres.
Barbara was 77 and had been suffering from Parkinsons for 25 years.
With her late husband, the drummer Jon Hiseman, she formed the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, a group of outstanding bandleaders.
She also worked closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber on CATS and his Requiem.
In her prime, Barbara played two saxophones at a time, both of them in tune.
RIP. Not really my type of music, but I was well aware of her reputation. Parky’s for 25 years sounds like a terrible burden.
Puzzled by “both of them in tune”.
The saxophone is a difficult beast to tame. (Condolences to her family and friends of course.)
I have just re-watched the 2010 BBC 4 documentary about her fight against Parkinson’s, “Playing For Time”, which explains the context of that “in tune” reference (it’s a jazz in-joke about Roland Kirk). One striking thing about re-watching that programme now is the knowledge that Barbara Thompson would outlive her husband, Jon Hiseman, by four years.
Thompson and Hiseman: jazz-rock fusion at its best. RIP.
Fantastic musician…..Brave,beautiful soul.