The Recording Academy Statement Re: Charlie Haden

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ The Recording Academy) Three-time GRAMMY winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Charlie Haden was an icon of avant-garde jazz. A bassist and composer, he played with jazz greats Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, John DeJohnette, Keith Jarrett, Art Pepper, Dewey Redman, and countless others, ultimately becoming known as one of the founding fathers of free jazz. In a career that spanned more than five decades, he was never one to settle into a particular style of jazz and was influenced by all kinds of sounds, pushing the boundaries of music and blazing trails that many musicians still follow today. He also was committed to arts education, introducing and teaching jazz studies at California Institute of the Arts, one of the premier programs of its kind. The music world has lost one of its most prolific, creative and fearless players, though his body of work leaves a remarkable legacy that will forever remain engrained in our culture. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, his friends, the many musicians who had the distinct privilege of working with him, and all who have been inspired by his improvisations.


Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy