Jeff Hoyer - R.I.P.

[Frisco]

Regrettably, I just heard from percussionist Heinz Geisser that his good friend and brother in music, trombonist Jeff Hoyer, passed away on Thursday December 7, in Brooklyn. Jeff was only 56. He is probably most well known for his work with the Collective 4tet along with William Parker, Mark Hennen, and Heinz Geisser. Jeff was recently performing as past of Cecil Taylor's Orchestras at Iridium. RIP, Jeff.

[robin bell]

Originally Posted by Frisco

Regrettably, I just heard from percussionist Heinz Geisser that his good friend and brother in music, trombonist Jeff Hoyer, passed away on Thursday December 7, in Brooklyn. Jeff was only 56. He is probably most well known for his work with the Collective 4tet along with William Parker, Mark Hennen, and Heinz Geisser. Jeff was recently performing as past of Cecil Taylor's Orchestras at Iridium. RIP, Jeff.

frisco, sad news indeed. today i was listening to wkcr and they talked about jeff's sudden and untimely death. i think that next week they are going to boadcast a tribute. not sure what day so you may want to check wkcr's schedule. if i find out more info, i'll post it. condolences to his family and friends.

[Frisco]

Originally Posted by robin bell

frisco, sad news indeed. today i was listening to wkcr and they talked about jeff's sudden and untimely death. i think that next week they are going to boadcast a tribute. not sure what day so you may want to check wkcr's schedule. if i find out more info, i'll post it. condolences to his family and friends.

Robin, please let me know if you hear of a radio tribute. Unfortunately, my school system has blocked Real Player, my only link to WKCR during the daytime. I often work on special education reports and that music would probably be too inspiring for me, I guess.

I was able to play four Collective 4tet tracks on my radio show on WHFR last night. Besides the Collective 4tet, I only found Jeff on one Cecil Taylor disc (The Light of Corona) and a Leroy Jenkins cd.

I heard the 4tet for the first, and only, time at the Stork Music Festival in 1994 when Context Studios was on First Avenue. I knew very little of the members besides William Parker. I was delighted to hear the music recorded when Leo began documenting in 1996. The first two discs, "The Ropedancer" and "Orca" remain my favorites. I wish that they could've toured the US.

[Stephen Haynes]

It is still hard to imagine that Jeff has left us.

Jeff was/is such a large person/spirit: his sound, his conception, his inclination towards sharing and teaching-generous to a fault. And during a time and in a place where speaking the truth was/is not always appreciated, not "hip", Jeff always followed his heart, something that some musicians had a hard time receiving.

While many may remember his ability to improvise in the moment, he had a deep and abiding commitment to composition intertwined, over the years, with his mentors and colleagues Bill Dixon and Cecil Taylor. Using Bill's language we would describe Jeff as an orchestral thinker. Understand that this sensibility revals itself in Jeff's work for solo trombone as well as in his work for orchestra. A way of walking through this world, truly.

Regarding the radio tribute, I just spoke with Ben Young, who will broadcast on Tuesday of next week. I have agreed to send him the recordings of the nHarmonic Brass Ensemble from Real Art Ways and Firehouse 12, our last collaboration. Unsure of the time, but check the WKCR website and, if you have no luck, email me and I will find out what is happening.

Stephen Haynes
newparadym@yahoo.com
http://stephenhaynes.blogspot.com/