R.I.P. Hayden Carruth

[Bill Barton]

Perusing the Jazz Programmers List this morning I came across this link, posted by Tom Reney:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/bo...es&oref=slogin

Sad news...

His book Sitting In: Selected Writings on Jazz, Blues and Related Topics (University of Iowa Press) is highly recommended as a passionate, opinionated and thought-provoking read.

When he lived in Johnson, VT from 1977 to 1979, hardly a week went by when I didn't get a call from him at WNCS-FM in Montpelier, where I hosted "Jazz Spectrum." Sometimes he called to make a request (often for Buddy Tate, one of his favorites) and other times it was just to chat or say "thanks" for playing something that - most likely - he never expected to hear on the radio. When he moved to Syracuse I really missed those calls.

Even though we never met "face-to-face" I felt like I knew him after all of those late-night phone conversations.

His passion, compassion, and eloquent writing will be missed.

R.I.P. Hayden Carruth

[Paul B]

A great poet. I love his work. And as Bill says, Carruth—like fellow poet Clark Coolidge—had a real feeling for jazz.

****

The Fantastic Names of Jazz

Zoot Sims, Joshua Redman,
Billie Holiday, Pete Fountain,
Fate Marable, Ivie Anderson,
Meade-Lux Lewis, Mezz Mezzrow,
Manzie Johnson, Marcus Roberts,
Omer Simeon, Miff Mole, Sister
Rosetta Sharpe, Freddie Slack,
Thelonious Monk, Charlie Teagarden,
Max Roach, Paul Celestin, Muggsy
Spanier, Boomie Richman, Panama
Francis, Abdullah Ibrahim, Piano
Red, Champion Jack Dupree,
Cow Cow Davenport, Shirley Horn,
Cedar Walton, Sweets Edison,
Jaki Byard, John Heard, Joy Harjo,
Pinetop Smith, Tricky Sam
Nanton, Major Holley, Stuff Smith,
Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berrigan,
Mr. Cleanhead Vinson, Ruby Braff,
Cootie Williams, Cab Calloway,
Lockjaw Davis, Chippie Hill,
And of course Jelly Roll Morton.

—from Doctor Jazz

[Gary Sisco]

Whoa. I'm sorry to hear that. He was one of my favorites of his generation.

[Gary Sisco]

That's it for Hayden, huh?

Many years ago, he taught at the mighty Johnson State College, where Root Doctor works.

He's still thought of by many who think about these things as VT's poet though he hasn't lived there in a long time.

[Xavier]

His anthology of 20th century poetry: The Voice That Is Great Within Us is the best anthology of US poetry I've ever read. It's in paperback and I bought a second one because over the years I wore the first one out. Sorry to hear the news.