I do the 10AM-2PM weekday program on JAZZ.FM91 Toronto - Canada’s Premier Jazz Station. Jazz is a very special type of music and I love to introduce it to new listeners. Tune in now 91.1FM southern Ontario and western New York / www.jazz.fm online.

Terry McElligott

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For anyone with a sense of jazz history, 2009 began notably. In January, tenorman David “Fathead” Newman (left) died. Sax players Hank Crawford and Leroy Cooper also passed away. All three were associated with Ray Charles.

Like shadows, they were outshone by Ray’s bright star but this fame wouldn’t have been quite the same without their soulful backing. All three left behind fine shelves of recordings dating back the the 1950s. David Sanborn has wonderful words for these three brilliant players: “These guys gave me my life. They turned on the lights for me, and opened the door to all that was great and true about music. Thank you, gentle men.”