Jim McNeely, an imaginative big band composer-arranger and pianist whose works told a cohesive story, were swinging and often were expansive in terms of the instrumental landscape they covered, died on September 26 of bile duct cancer.
Great examples, Marc. Especially the albums with Anne Marie Moss and Jackie Paris were totally new to me. Jim McNeely was a great pianist and also a great arranger. Everyone here at JazzWax knows this of course. He's in the row of some great musicians which worked here in Germany on a regular basis since decades. Eddie Sauter, Dave Hildinger, Bill Dobbins, Mike Abene... to name just the few of the conductors/arrangers. And actually Bob Mintzter is the chief conductor of the WDR-Big Band. I still remember his compositions and arrangements for the Buddy Rich Band in the 70s.
Jim wasn’t only a brilliant musician. He was the kind of person who lifted everyone around him. He took time to help younger players, offered encouragement when others stayed silent, and treated every musician with respect.
In a field often driven by ego and competition, Jim’s humility and generosity made him stand apart. He valued music as a shared language, not a contest.
His presence left a mark on everyone lucky enough to know him. He’s deeply missed — both for his sound and his spirit.
Great examples, Marc. Especially the albums with Anne Marie Moss and Jackie Paris were totally new to me. Jim McNeely was a great pianist and also a great arranger. Everyone here at JazzWax knows this of course. He's in the row of some great musicians which worked here in Germany on a regular basis since decades. Eddie Sauter, Dave Hildinger, Bill Dobbins, Mike Abene... to name just the few of the conductors/arrangers. And actually Bob Mintzter is the chief conductor of the WDR-Big Band. I still remember his compositions and arrangements for the Buddy Rich Band in the 70s.
Jim wasn’t only a brilliant musician. He was the kind of person who lifted everyone around him. He took time to help younger players, offered encouragement when others stayed silent, and treated every musician with respect.
In a field often driven by ego and competition, Jim’s humility and generosity made him stand apart. He valued music as a shared language, not a contest.
His presence left a mark on everyone lucky enough to know him. He’s deeply missed — both for his sound and his spirit.
I caught Illinois Jacquet's Big Band in the early 1990's at Tavern On The Green. So there is another one.