When Lance asked me to write a few words to mark the passing of American born Danish percussionist Marilyn Mazur on Dec. 12 aged 70, I had to confess I knew nothing whatsoever about her. When he admitted the same I felt in good company, and jazz is all about exploration.
Born in New York in 1955 to Polish and African-American parents, she moved to Sweden aged six where she would become a much-loved jazz musician, leading a number of bands before playing on Aura, the album that reunited Miles Davis with Gil Evans and she played in both of their bands as well as those of Wayne Shorter, Jan Garbarek and Denmark based Japanese pianist Makiko Hirabayashi.
The percussionist won numerous awards including the short-lived Jazzpar Prize, a Danish award for international performers, and was recognised in Downbeat magazine six times between 1989 and 2002.
Mazur recorded many albums including sixteen on the ECM label as well as many as a guest musician and led a ten piece all female all Scandinavian band called Shamania. As well as Aura, I'd previously heard her - albeit unknowingly - on an album by Gil Evans and Laurent Cugny called Rhythm-a-ning.
It's also possible I saw her live though I've been unable to confirm this one way or another. She recorded and performed with Lindsay Cooper, formerly of progressive jazz-rock band Henry Cow, and following her death in 2013, musicians who had played with her in various settings, including members of Oh Moscow, which included Mazur, played a tribute concert as part of the 2014 London Jazz Festival, and I was there.
Anyone?
Marylin Mazur leaves me with contributions to dozens of albums to explore. Steve T
3 comments :
She played the City Hall with Jan Garbarek pre 2000, and was absolutely brilliant. A massive collection of all kinds of percussive instruments were played by her.
I saw Marilyn play with Jan Garbarek at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh in 2004. She was excellent. It's sad that we've lost her far too soon.
Many thanks to Steve for pointing me in the direction of the Miles Davis/Aura album and the Gil Evans/Laurent Gugny which I wouldn't otherwise have associated with Marilyn Mazur.
As far as I know I only saw her once, the gig with Jan Garbarek at City Hall, Newcastle, which was on 10 May 2002. I'm attaching a copy of the ticket and my review from the Darlington & Stockton Times.
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