George Avakian, RIP

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

"George Avakian, a producer, artist manager and writer who played a foundational role in jazz’s expression on record, died on Wednesday at his home in Manhattan. He was 98.

His death was confirmed by his daughter Anahid Avakian Gregg.

Over the course of a long career that began in his early 20s, Avakian worked closely with many jazz legends, including Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. He also shaped core perceptions around jazz’s historical recordings, creating both the first jazz album and the first jazz reissue program. And he helped put the music in relatable context, savoring his reputation as “the father of jazz album annotation.”

Few figures were as integral to the jazz recording industry during its commercial and creative peak. During his tenure with Columbia Records in the 1950s, Avakian signed and produced artists like Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner and Benny Goodman. Later, in the ‘60s, he worked with RCA Victor. His momentous run on those two labels included touchstone albums like Ellington at Newport (1956), Miles Ahead (1957) and Sonny Rollins’ The Bridge (1962)." - WBGO

[Bryn]

A good innings, but sad nonetheless. My encounters with his work are not through jazz but via his promotion and recordings production of the music of John Cage and his circle. Though I long ago returned it to its original recipient, for some years I had a letter from him to a friend of mine regarding the recording of the Cage 25 Year Retrospective Concert he released as a 3 LP boxed set. While in an impecuniary state my friend sold me his copy of that set, including the letter. When the set was much later issued on the Wergo label, I took the opportunity to return the LP set and letter.

Also peripheral to his jazz work, George was centrally responsible for Charles Amirkhanian setting up the Other Minds festivals and record label. Many thanks to George Avakian for that, too.