By Andrey Henkin

For 2025, my Jazz Passings website accumulated 1,028 entries, with 242 receiving detailed write-ups, far shy of 1,211 and 308 from 2024. That said, it did feel, purely subjectively, like there were so many more major passings in 2025 than in recent memory. Statistical analysis doesn’t back that up, but people’s feelings towards death are rarely rational.

Some clear themes are apparent in retrospect. 2025 saw the loss of an astonishing amount of singers as well as musicians falling under the umbrella of traditional jazz. There were three NEA Jazz Masters and six Grammy Winners. Regionally, South Africa lost a disproportionate amount of figures.

For a complete list, visit here and for more a more detailed analysis, replete with various categories only hinted at above, see here.

Here is a selected list of some of 2025’s most notable jazz passings.

The late Jack DeJohnette at Newport Jazz Festival in 2017. Photo: Paul Robicheau

• Susan Alcorn, 71, American pedal steel guitarist [1/31]
• Ursula Anders, 86, German drummer [2/7]
• Larry Appelbaum, 67, American author [2/21]
• Roy Ayers, 84, American vibraphonist [3/4]
• Gérard Badini, 94, French reedplayer [10/25]
• Greg Bandy, 74, American drummer [5/23]
• Clifford Barbaro, 77, American drummer (Sun Ra) [6/20]
• Dave Bargeron, 82, American hornplayer [1/18]
• Thomas Bellino, ~73, American label head [2/18]
• Andy Bey, 85, American vocalist [4/26]
• Tony Bianco, 72, American drummer [9/14]
• Ray Blue, 74, American saxophonist [5/22]
• Joyce Breach, 81, American vocalist [9/5]
• Brian Carrick, ?, British clarinetist [12/31]
• William “Bill” Carter, 90, American clarinetist [1/1]
• Joe Daley, 75, American tuba player [8/3]
• Francis Davis, 78, American author [4/14]
• Matija Dedić, 52, Croatian pianist [6/8]
• Jack DeJohnette, 83, American drummer (NEA Jazz Master, Grammy Winner) [10/26]
• Abdoulaye Diabaté, ~65, Senegalese pianist [1/16]
• Aïyb Dieng, 77, Senegalese percussionist [7/13]
• Klaus Doldinger, 89, German saxophonist [10/16]
• Bob Draga, 78, American clarinetist [9/23]
• Ray Drummond, 78, American bassist [11/1]
• Feya Faku, 63, South African trumpeter [6/23]
• Hans Falb, 71, Australian promoter [12/26]
• Leopoldo Fleming, 85, Puerto Rican percussionist [4/28]
• Joe Ford, 78, American saxophonist [5/25]
• Al Foster, 82, American drummer [5/28]
• George Freeman, 97, American guitarist [4/1]
• Hal Galper, 87, American pianist [7/18]
• Herb Gardner, ~87, American trombonist [9/23]
• David F. Gibson, 72, American drummer [7/30]
• Joe Giglio, 70, American guitarist [6/6]
• Gordon Goodwin, 70, American bandleader [12/8]
• Vernice “Bunky” Green, 89, American saxophonist [3/1]
• Miles Griffith, 55, American vocalist [4/2]
• Peter Gritz, 67, Hungarian drummer [8/20]
• Dick Hamilton, 86, American multi-instrumentalist [6/10]
• Gary Hassay, 77, American saxophonist [9/13]
• Rob Henke, ?, American trumpeter [6/12]
• Manfred Hering, 86, German saxophonist [11/29]
• Mark Izu, 70, American bassist [1/12]
• Anthony Jackson, 73, American bassist [10/19]
• Sven-Åke Johansson, ~82, Swedish drummer [6/15]
• Sheila Jordan, 96, American vocalist (NEA Jazz Master) [8/11]
• Theo Jörgensmann, 77, German clarinetist [10/6]
• Kazuo “Kaz” Kajimura, 81, Japanese club owner (Yoshi’s) [6/15]
• Artie Kaplan, ~90, American saxophonist [10/11]
• Brian Kellock, ~63, Scots pianist [5/27]
• Rick Kiefer, 85, American trumpeter [3/2]
• Nancy King, 85, American vocalist [8/5]
• Tony Kinsey, 97, British drummer [2/10]
• Bjørn Kjellemyr, 74, Norwegian bassist [8/9]
• Jack Kleinsinger, 88, American promoter (Highlights in Jazz) [6/11]
• Guy Klucevsek, 78, American accordion player [5/22]
• Guy Kopelowicz, 89, French photographer [10/26]
• Cleo Laine, 97, British vocalist (Grammy Winner) [7/24]
• Lester Lashley, 89, American trombonist [4/13]
• Carl Lunsford, 90, American banjoist [8/5]
• Chuck Mangione, 84, American trumpeter (Grammy Winner) [7/22]
• John Marshall, 72, American trumpeter [5/21]
• Lois Martin, 72, American violist [11/19]
• Marilyn Mazur, 70, American percussionist [12/12]
• Ernest McCarty, Jr., 84, American bassist [12/11]
• Jim McNeely, 76, American pianist, composer and arranger [9/26]
• Peter “Banjo” Meyer, 80, German banjo player [2/6]
• Sei Miguel, 64, Portoguese trumpeter [11/11]
• Martha Miyake, 92, Japanese vocalist [5/14]
• Sharon Moe, 83, American french horn player [6/1]
• Louis Moholo-Moholo, 85, South African drummer [6/13]
• Don Moore, 86, American bassist [6/10]
• Tony Morales, ?, American percussionist [2/15]
• Jamie Muir, 82, British percussionist [2/17]
• Eddie Palmieri, 88, American pianist (NEA Jazz Master, Grammy Winner) [8/6]
• Hermeto Pascoal, 89, Brazilian multi-instrumentalist and composer [9/13]
• Bob Perkins, 91, American DJ [1/19]
• Esa Pethman, 86, Finnish reed/wind player [3/18]
• Abbey Rader, 81, American drummer [9/30]
• R. A. Ramamani, ~69, Indian vocalist [10/18]
• Mike Ratledge, 81, British keyboardist [2/5]
• Steve Reid, 69, American percussionist (Rippingtons) [9/24]
• Demian Richardson, 55, American trumpeter [12/10]
• Howard Riley, 81, British pianist [2/8]
• Stan Rubin, 92, American clarinetist [12/28]
• John Ruocco, 72, American saxophonist [5/21]
• George “Doc” Ryan, 95, American cornet player [5/8]
• Thomas Ellis Sayers, 61, American poet (Heroes Are Gang Leaders) [7/17]
• Lalo Schifrin, 93, Argentine pianist (Grammy Winner) [6/26]
• Jim Self, 83, American tuba player [11/2]
• Vojislav Simić, 101, Serbian conductor [9/29]
• Paul Stocker, ~73, American saxophonist [6/25]
• Foday Musa Suso, 75, Gambian kora player [5/25]
• Scott H. Thompson, 71, American publicist [10/24]
• Akiko Tsuruga, 58, Japanese organ player [9/13]
• Phil Upchurch, 84, American guitarist [11/23]
• Michał Urbaniak, 82, Polish violinist [12/20]
• Bob Venier, ?, Australian trumpeter [1/15]
• Norman Marshall Villeneuve, 87, Canadian drummer [7/9]
• Daoud-David Williams, ~82, American percussionist [2/15]
• Mike Wofford, 87, American pianist [9/19]

A second list looks beyond jazz to other forms of music:

The late Marianne Faithfull at the Paradise Rock Club in 2022. Photo: Paul Robicheau

• Mick Abrahams, 82, British guitarist (Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig) [12/19]
• Freddie Aguilar, 72, Filipino singer-songwriter (“Anak”) [5/27]
• José Luis Esquvel Aguirre, 58, Mexican punk bassist, singer (Putrid Scum) [11/17]
• Gene “Groove” Allen, 62, American rapper (Groove B Chill) [2/12]
• David Ball, 66, British electronic musician (Soft Cell) [10/22]
• Duane Bodenheimer, 59, American punk singer (The Derelicts) [8/17]
• Radcliffe “Dougie” Bryan, 78, Jamaican guitarist, singer [10/16]
• Don Bryant, 83 American R&B singer-songwriter (“I Can’t Stand the Rain”) [12/26]
• Dave Burgess, 90, American rock guitarist (The Champs) [10/19]
• Jerry Butler, 85, American Hall of Fame soul singer-songwriter, musician (The Impressions) [2/20]
• Junior Byles, 77, Jamaican reggae singer [5/15]
• Joseph Byrd, 87, American musician (The United States of America), songwriter [11/02]
• Carl Carlton, 72, American soul singer [12/13]
• Judy Cheeks, 71, American soul singer [11/26]
• Lou Christie, 82, American singer-songwriter [6/18]
• Alf Clausen, 84, American composer (The Simpsons) [5/29]
• Jimmy Cliff, 81, Jamaican Hall of Fame reggae singer-songwriter and actor [11/24]
• Steve Cropper, 84, American guitarist, songwriter (Booker T. & the M.G.’s) [12/3]
• Sonny Curtis, 88, American singer-songwriter (“I Fought the Law”) [9/19]
• D’Angelo, 51, American singer-songwriter (born Michael Eugene Archer) [10/14]
• Dick Damron, 91, Canadian singer-songwriter [3/29]
• Richard Darbyshire, 65, British singer-songwriter, producer (Living in a Box) [11/10]
• Nicole David, 51, St. Lucian soca singer [6/2]
• Rick Davies, 81, British keyboardist, singer (Supertramp) [9/6]
• Jacques Delaporte, 77, French singer, songwriter (Le Grand Orchestre Du Splendid) [3/13]
• Rick Derringer, 77, American rock guitarist, singer, producer [5/26]
• Chris Dreja, 78, British guitarist, bassist, photographer (The Byrds) [9/25]
• Patti Drew, 80, American pop singer [6/16]
• John Edwards, 80, American R&B singer (The Spinners) [5/11]
• Max Eider, ???, British guitarist (The Jazz Butcher) [12/17]
• Harry Elston, 86, American gospel singer (Friends of Distinction) [3/4]
• Joe Ely, 78, American musician (The Flatlanders) [12/15]
• Marianne Faithfull, 78, English singer, songwriter and actress [1/30]
• Graham Fenton, ~76, English rockabilly singer (Matchbox) [8/10]
• Roberta Flack, 88, American singer [2/24]
• Peter Forrest, 64, American heavy metal singer (as P.Fluid) (24-7 Spyz) [1/13, murdered]
• Connie Francis, 87, American pop singer [7/16]
• Marcie Free, 71, American heavy metal singer (King Kobra) [10/24]
• Ace Frehley, 74, American rock guitarist (KISS, Frehley’s Comet) [10/16]
• Chuck Girard, 81, American Christian musicians [8/11]
• Donna Jean Godchaux, 78 American singer (The Grateful Dead) [11/2]
• Brent Hinds, 51, American heavy metal guitarist, singer (Mastadon) [8/20]
• Pat Hodges, 67, American soul singer [2/22]
• Garth Hudson, 87, Canadian musician (The Band) and keyboardist [1/21]
• Tommy Hunt, 91, American doo-wop singer (The Flamingos) [2/12]
• Michael Hurley, 83, American folk singer-songwriter [4/01]
• Brian James, 74, British punk guitarist (The Damned, The Lords of the New Church) [3/6]
• Chris Jasper, 73, American singer, composer and producer (Isley Brothers) [2/23]
• Flaco Jiménez, 86, American musician (Texas Tornados, Los Super Seven) [7/31]
• David Johansen, 75, American musician (New York Dolls), singer [2/28]
• Robert John, 79, American soft rock singer [2/24]
• Terry Johnson, 86, American doo-wop singer (The Flamingos) [10/8]
• Jellybean Johnson, 69, American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, record producer (The Time) [11/21]
• Vivian Jones, 68, Jamaican reggae singer [10/27]
• David Kaff, 79, British keyboard player (Rare Bird, Spinal Tap) [7/11]
• Nisse Karlsen, 50, Swedish heavy metal guitarist, singer (Sacramentum) [11/25, suicide]
• George Kooymans, 77, Dutch rock guitarist (Golden Earring) [7/22]
• Larry Lee, 78, American songwriter (The Ozark Mountain Daredevils) [5/10]
• Tom Lehrer, 97, American singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician [7/26]
• Eddie L. Lewis, 57, American house singer (Aly-Us) [6/7]
• Wayne Lewis, 68, American soul singer (Atlantic Starr) [6/5]
• Guitar Lightnin’ Lee, 83, American blues guitarist (born Leroy Williams) [11/6]
• Tomas Lindberg, 52, Swedish heavy metal singer (At The Gates, Disfear) [9/16]
• John Lodge, 82, British bassist, singer, songwriter (The Moody Blues) [10/10]
• Raul Malo, 60, American musician (The Mavericks) and songwriter [12/10]
• Gary “Mani” Mani 63, British indie rock bassist (The Stone Roses) [11/20]
• Douglas McCarthy, 58, British singer (Nitzer Ebb) [6/11]
• Gwen McCrae, 81, American singer [2/21]
• Melba Montgomery, 86, American country singer and songwriter [1/15]
• Sam Moore, 89, American Hall of Fame singer-songwriter (Sam & Dave) [1/10]
• Ozzy Osbourne, 76, British heavy metal singer [7/22]
• Wayne Osmond, 73, American singer, guitarist (The Osmonds) [1/1]
• P.E.A.C.E., 51, American rapper (born Mtulazaji Issan Davis] (Freestyle Fellowship) [10/24]
• Dadou Pasquet, 72, Haitian singer-songwriter [11/22]
• Stedman Pearson, 60, British singer [3/10]
• Rubby Pérez, 69, Dominican merengue singer [4/8, Jet Set nightclub fire]
• Mike Peters, 66, Welsh rock singer (The Alarm) [4/29]
• Coburn Pharr, 62, American heavy metal singer (Annihilator, Omen) [2/25]
• Chuck Profus, 61, American heavy metal drummer (Agent Steel) [6/4]
• Mick Ralphs, 81, British guitarist, singer, songwriter (Mott Ther Hoople, Bad Company) [6/23]
• Chris Rea, 74, British singer-songwriter [12/22]
• Rob Reiner, 78, American filmmaker (This Is Spinal Tap) [12/14, murdered]
• Sam Rivers, 48, American rock bassist (Limp Bizkit) [10/18]
• Max Romeo, 80, Jamaican reggae musician [4/11]
• Dirk Schröder, 58, German heavy metal singer (Iron Angel) [~5/28]
• Walter Scott, 81, American R&B singer (The Whispers) [6/26]
• Jeannie Seely, 85, American singer [8/01]
• Richard Smallwood, 77, American gospel singer-songwriter (“Total Praise”) [12/30]
• Todd Snider, 59, American singer-songwriter [11/14]
• Mark Snow, 78, American composer (The X-Files) [7/4]
• Jill Sobule, 66, American singer-songwriter [5/1, house fire]
• Angie Stone, 63, American soul singer (former partner to D’Angelo) [3/1]
• Sly Stone, 82, American Hall of Fame musician (Sly and the Family Stone) and songwriter [6/03]
• Jubilant Sykes, 71, American opera singer [12/8]
• Chubby Tavares, 80, Cape Verdean R&B singer (Tavares) [11/29]
• Cocoa Tea, 65, Jamaican singer (born Colvin George Scott) [3/11]
• David Thomas, 71, American singer (Rocket from the Tombs, Pere Ubu) and songwriter [4/23]
• Chris Turner, ???, Australian rock guitarist (Rose Tattoo) [10/22]
• Unk, 43, American rapper (born Anthony Leonard Platt) [1/24]
• Mark Volman, 78, American musician (The Turtles, Flo & Eddie) [9/03]
• Joe Louis Walker, 75, American blues musician [4/30]
• Wally Warning, ???, Aruban reggae singer [9/19]
• Bobby Whitlock, 77, American singer, songwriter and musician [8/10]
• D’Wayne Wiggins, 64, American R&B singer (Tony! Toni! Toné!) [3/7]
• Huey Williams, 86, American gospel singer (Jackson Southernaires) [3/24]
• Iris Williams, 79, Welsh pop singer [7/11]
• Brian Wilson, 82, American musician (The Beach Boys), songwriter [6/11]
• Brenton Wood, 83, American soul singer [1/3]
• Cavin Yarbrough, 72, American R&B singer (Yarbrough & Peoples) [6/19]
• Peter Yarrow, 86, American singer (Peter, Paul and Mary) and songwriter [1/3]
• Jesse Colin Young, 83, American singer-songwriter (The Youngbloods) [3/16]