Jazz fusion drummer Alphonse Mouzon died this weekend at age 68. The famed percussionist was diagnosed with a relatively rare and advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma in September.
On November 25, Mouzon publicly thanked his former wife, Allison Mouzon, for her financial aid of his cancer treatments in Mexico. Facebook friends and followers began adding condolences to Mouzon’s post following his passing.
Mouzon’s death compounds an already wretched year in terms of musician deaths, including, but not limited to, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Prince, Merle Haggard, Leonard Cohen, Sharon Jones, Leon Russell, and George Michael.
While Mouzon’s name might not carry as much weight in pop circles, his death will weigh heavily on jazz fans. Born in 1948, Mouzon signed his first record deal in 1970 with Blue Note Records. Over the course of his recording career, he recorded 25 albums as band leader. He also participated in musical projects with the likes of Larry Coryell, Jaco Pastorius, McCoy Tyner, Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola, Les McCann, Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis; and recorded with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana and Chubby Checker.
Slayer founding member Dave Lombardo took to Twitter to publicly mourn Mouzon’s passing.
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