Lester Bowie (1941-99)	Nov 16 99

Lester Bowie Jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie died November 8, 1999, at the age of 58, following a long illness. Bowie was an important member of the jazz avant-garde for more than 30 years. In the 1960s, he was co-founder and second president of the influential Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. The group touted among its descendents the jazz groups Air, The World Saxophone Quartet, along with instrumentalists Anthony Braxton and Muhal Richard Abrams. In 1969, Bowie, with saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, co-founded the Art Ensemble of Chicago (AEC). The AEC was a durable group that was a staple of the world jazz scene in the 1970s and 80s. The AEC also included saxophonist Joseph Jarman, bassist Malachi Favors, and percussionist Don Moye. The AEC was noted for a remarkable proficiency in collective improvisation. Born in Maryland on October 11, 1941, Bowie was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where he helped form the Black Artist Group and the Great Black Orchestra. He recorded prolifically, including sessions with artists Archie Shepp, Jimmy Lyons, Sunny Murray, and Cecil Taylor. Bowie was a flamboyant performer who combined seriousness with a sense of humor. He incorporated many different styles of music into his performances, ranging from Michael Jackson and James Brown to music from Africa and the Caribbean. Bowie was on tour in London with the group Brass Fantasy when he became ill and had to return to New York. After a hospital stay, he was sent home, where he died. Sources: New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, David Baker, Todd Davidson

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