from The Seattle Times:

Northwest jazz lost an exceptionally talented and eccentric figure last week when bassist/pianist Jerome “Jerry” Heldman died of pneumonia.

Mr. Heldman was the proprietor and also a performer at the Llahngaelhyn, a legendary coffee house located in the fairy castle-like building just south of the University Bridge that hosted jazz from 1965 to 1968.

Mr. Heldman died Oct. 11 in Yacolt, Clark County, after being bedridden for two years with heart failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. He was 76.

The Llahngaelhyn was known for all-night jam sessions, where touring musicians such as pianists McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea and saxophonist Roland Kirk dropped by, and local players such as bassist David Friesen, guitarist Larry Coryell, saxophonist Carlos Ward and guitarist Ralph Towner cut their teeth. The late Seattle beat poet, Jesse Bernstein, was also a regular.

Read more at The Seattle Times.

And we did notice a post from Jay Thomas on Facebook that is worth noting:

Jerry taught me so much and used to run to great jam session places in Seattle.

(re: the Llahngaelhyn) I went there a lot…had some great times and learned tons from Jerry and all the older cats down there…I got to play with McCoy Tyner one night late after his gig with [Art] Blakey at the Penthouse…I went to the QueeQueg also and used to hear Joe Brazil and so many cats…Jerry was a very dedicated musician and could really play

Category:
Seattle Jazz