Muhal Richard Abrams (1930–2017)

Muhal Richard Abrams, pianist, composer, bandleader, co-founder of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, has died at the age of eighty-seven. He was a giant of modern music. The Chicago Tribune and New York Times have obituaries.

Here via YouTube is a sampler of Abrams as pianist, composer, bandleader, and interpreter of tradition:

“Young at Heart” (1969) : “Maple Leaf Rag” (1976) : “Miss Richarda” (1987) : “Bermix” (1989) : “Blu Blu Blu” (1990) : Solo performance (2007) : “Improvisation for John” (2016) : The Trio (2017)

I am fortunate to have heard Abrams play in Chicago in 2009 and 2013.