The jazz composer George Russell, whose theory was directly influenced and contemporary classics like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, has died. His employer says Russell, who studied at the New England Conservatory, died the 27th of last month from complications of his illness.

George Russell had been suffering with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Russell was born in Cincinnati in 1923 and joined the University Willberforce. He played in the band of Benny Parker and later wrote “Cubano Be / Cubano Bop” for Dizzy Gillespie’s orchestra.  Read the rest of this entry »