Mark Stryker Posted February 13, 2009 Report Posted February 13, 2009 Horrible jazz-related news that board members will want to know about: The Associated Press just moved an alert quoting Chuck Mangione's publicist that two of his band members were killed in the Buffalo crash, saxophonist Gerry Niewood and guitarist Coleman Mellett. Quote
Free For All Posted February 13, 2009 Report Posted February 13, 2009 More sad news on top of what was already a tragedy. I've always enjoyed Niewood's playing (I'm not familiar w/the guitarist). Very sorry to hear this. Quote
michel1969 Posted February 13, 2009 Report Posted February 13, 2009 (edited) Its very sad news. Gerry Niewood was a brilliant musician. He also played with pop musicians (notably with Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park in 1985). Edited February 13, 2009 by Michel Quote
flat5 Posted February 13, 2009 Report Posted February 13, 2009 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090213/ap_en_...o_home_mangione Publicist: 2 Mangione musicians die in plane crash 1 hr 34 mins ago NEW YORK – Two members of jazz musician Chuck Mangione's band were among those killed on the plane that crashed into a Buffalo, New York, house, a publicist said Friday. Publicist Sanford Brokaw identified the band members as Gerry Niewood, 64, of Rochester, N.Y., and Coleman Mellett of Maryland. Niewood played saxophone and flute and Mellett was a guitarist. In a statement Mangione said: "I'm in shock over the horrible, heartbreaking tragedy of the crash of Flight 3407, which took the lives of my dear friends and band members. I am grieving and praying with their families and friends." Mangione and his band were scheduled to perform Friday with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at Kleinhans Music Hall. The concert has been postponed. Quote
sidewinder Posted February 13, 2009 Report Posted February 13, 2009 Sad news indeed. RIP and sympathies to the band. Didn't Gerry Niewood also record for A&M/Horizon in the 1970s? Quote
Dan Gould Posted February 13, 2009 Report Posted February 13, 2009 About 10 years ago I was at Blue Note Records jazz room and was surprised to hear someone ask for Gerry Niewood, as I recognized the name but only from the Concert in Central Park LP - had no idea that he played jazz as well. This crash serves as a reminder of how rare the "Miracle on the Hudson" really is. RIP. Quote
Free For All Posted February 13, 2009 Report Posted February 13, 2009 Didn't Gerry Niewood also record for A&M/Horizon in the 1970s? Yes, he had a release on A&M with his group Timepiece. He also had one on DMP and a fairly recent release called Facets (2004) where he played mostly standards and also was joined by his son Adam who is also a fine tenor player. I remember in college when he came to play with our big band. Great guy and a great musician, I wish he had more recordings available. I also liked his playing on a live Mangione recording, I think it was called "Alive"(A little unintended irony there). Very, very sad that he's gone. My condolences to his family and friends. Quote
Harold_Z Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 En route to join Chuck Mangione. Terrible news. Quote
Peter Friedman Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 I lived in Rochester,NY for many years and saw Gerry Niewood perform there numerous times with Chuck Mangione and in other contexts. A sad loss. Quote
marcello Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 Gerry was one of the sweetest men you could ever meet. Everyone loved him. Quote
Hot Ptah Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 I saw Chuck Mangione live in 1977 and was struck by how well his saxophone player soloed. Niewood played a lot of soprano sax that night. He took the concert to another level, beyond the famous, commercial tunes which the fans were happy to hear. He was a fine player. Quote
JohnS Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 Very sad news. I have nice memories of seeing Mangione's band wih Niewood at Ronnie Scott's. Quote
BillF Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 Sad news indeed. RIP and sympathies to the band. Didn't Gerry Niewood also record for A&M/Horizon in the 1970s? The only Niewood in my collection is on Little Wing: The Gil Evans Orchestra Live in Germany, recorded in October 1978. I don't know the label, as I've had it for years on audio tape! Quote
Jim R Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 I was very sorry to hear this news, and I must say a little disappointed by the relative lack of respect he got from the news media (no big surprise, though). I first noticed Niewood when I was in high school, on Mangione's 1973 recording "Land Of Make Believe", with a vocalist named Esther Satterfield. The title track was long, something like 14 minutes, and Niewood played a wonderful extended soprano solo. I can still hear it, and I haven't actually listened to it in many years. RIP, Gerry. Quote
mikeweil Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 (edited) R.I.P. I bought Niewood's debut LP back then and still like it. I saw him live with Gil Evans in the 1980's, he really dug into the music and played with a lot of fire. Too bad ... he should have got more credit for his fine playing. Edited February 14, 2009 by mikeweil Quote
Ed S Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 I remember seeing Niewood back in the 70s. He opened for McCoy Tyner at a show at the old Clark Gym at the University of Buffalo. Excellent show as I remember it. I have that Gerry Niewood album somewhere..... I'll have to give it a spin. Quote
Soul Stream Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 Really sad news and shocking for me. The first time I ever saw John Patton play live was at The Jazz Standard and Coleman Mellet was playing guitar. He also was in a trio that played together and recorded several CDs with drummer Ben Dixon and organist Adam Scone. He was a young guy and just amazing on guitar...definately took notes from masters like Grant Green, Kenny Burrell and Wes. He had a lot of soul. RIP Quote
Lazaro Vega Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/musi...oleman-Mellett/ Quote
Ted O'Reilly Posted February 14, 2009 Report Posted February 14, 2009 I was at the Massey Hall concert (c. 1973)that came out as "Land of Make Believe". Around noon hour of the concert day, I was walking down the street near the hotel where Chuck, Gerry, Esther and the others were staying. Gerry was standing there looking a bit puzzled. I recognized him (and he was carrying his instruments, so...) and like a good native, asked "Can I help you?" and he set me up: "How do you get to Massey Hall?" Yes, I did. C'mon, how many times in your life will you get the chance? "Practice". He laughed, realizing what he said. I gave him directions, introduced myself (I was doing a daily jazz radio show and had interviewed Chuck before, but this was how I met Gerry) and we went on our ways. I was later to have him on my show as a guest, and he remembered the occasion. A bit of lore: the tapes from that concert were stolen from the recording truck, but later recovered, perhaps after a reward was paid -- I forget the circumstances... RIP, Gerry. Quote
AndrewHill Posted February 15, 2009 Report Posted February 15, 2009 Man, the accident was bad enough, but then when hearing who was on the flight just makes it even harder to handle. RIP to all on this flight Quote
Lazaro Vega Posted February 15, 2009 Report Posted February 15, 2009 Coleman Mellett has been to Michigan for at least two summers in the infamous "Scully Tour" and appeared live from the studios of Blue Lake Public Radio during one of those turns. He was married to vocalist Jeanie Bryson, Dizzy Gillespie's daughter, who performed with him in Grand Rapids in the 1990's. A solid professional musician. Quote
makpjazz57 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Posted February 22, 2009 Memorial Service for Gerry Niewood on March 2 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey - Memorial Service Gerry Niewood died on February 12, 2009. He was 65. Memorial Services will be held at Glen Ridge Congregational Church Monday March 2 at 2PM. Glen Ridge Congregational Church 195 Ridgewood Avenue Glen Ridge NJ 07028 His wife, 2 children, daughter in-law and 2 grandchildren survive him. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gerry Niewood Scholarship Fund: c/o Glen Ridge Congregational Church, 195 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge NJ 07028 Please forward to anyone you feel would want to know... Quote
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