This is a nice remembrance from Seattle Jazz Scene. Hadley passed away on Wednesday, September 8th, was a local favorite, and from everyone I spoke to, a wonderful guy. His 2010 release Straight Ahead still tops my list of best jazz releases nationally for 2010. The sound of the Northwest will not be the same without him.
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Tenor saxophonist and jazz legend Hadley Caliman passed away this morning after a two year struggle with liver cancer. He was 78 years old.
Caliman remained active on the jazz scene until late-August, performing regularly around the Northwest in support of his recent releases: Reunion with Pete Christilieb, which was released in August and is now #31 on the national jazz charts, and Straight Ahead, which is #9 for the year on the Airplay Charts and was in the Top 10 on American jazz radio for many months.
Always striving to further himself on the saxophone, Caliman continued to practice daily until a week ago when he was too weak to continue. His last public performances were in Poulsbo on August 20, Tula’s Jazz Club on August 13, and the release performance for Reunion with Pete Christlieb at The New Orleans Creole Restaurant on August 8.
Caliman’s long career included credits with musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Gerald Wilson, Carlos Santana, Dexter Gordon, Elvin Jones, Mongo Santamaria, Joe Pass, The Grateful Dead, Joe Henderson, Don Ellis, Flora Purim, Phoebe Snow, Bobby Hutcherson and many others.
More information about a memorial will be posted soon.
Thanks again to Seattle Jazz Scene for their post. We would love your comments and memories of Hadley posted here.
Additionally, Seattle radio host Jim Wilke will be paying tribute to Hadley on his weekly program, Jazz Northwest. It can be heard this Sunday (9/12) at 1 PM PST on 88.5 KPLU in the Seattle/Tacoma area. It can also be heard live via KPLU’s webstream at the same time at KPLU.org, and can be downloaded as a podcast shortly after the show airs at Jazz Northwest at KPLU.org.