Gerry Niewood

Gerry Niewood ( born April 6, 1943 Gerard Joseph Nevidosky in Rochester (New York), † 12 February, 2009 Clarence Center (New York)) was a jazz musician (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet).

Life and work

Niewood first played with Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson. He became known as a longtime member of the band Chuck Mangione, which he had joined in 1968. At the same time he continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music, where he graduated in 1970; earlier, he had already attained a bachelor in 1965 at the University at Buffalo in industrial relations. As a leader Niewood occurred only rarely in appearance, after two albums for A & M from the years 1975 and 1977 he was a long time back working for other artists, including Simon & Garfunkel at her famous concert in Central Park in 1981 and for Gerry Mulligan and Gil Evans.

1985 Niewood could again release an album that is stylistically the fusion and smooth jazz belonging and appeared in the audiophile label dmp; he was supported by prominent musicians from the fusion scene like Dave Weckl and Joe Beck. However, a breakthrough as a leader failed Niewood; In 2004 he released his last album, on which his son, Adam, also a saxophonist, is heard. From the 1990s on, he played back together with Mangione and continued to work as a guest musician, inter alia, for Sinéad O'Connor and Liza Minnelli. On a number of film soundtracks (eg, When Harry Met Sally, and in the streets of the Bronx ) Niewood can also be heard. He was also the first saxophonist of the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra.

Niewood came on 12 February 2009 on the way to a gig with Mangione and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in a flying accident ( Continental Airlines Flight 3407 ) died. He left next to his son Adam ( b. 1977 ) and a daughter ( born 1985 ).

Discography

Lexigraphic entries

• Martin Kunzler: Jazz Encyclopedia Vol 2: M -Z. Reinbek 2002, ISBN 3-499-16513-9.