Of course we're all aware of the tragic plane crash of Flight 3407 over Buffalo. It is being reported this afternoon that veteran jazz sax player Gerry Niewood died in the crash along with guitarist Coleman Mellett. Niewood is best known for his long time association with the popular flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione. But he's also played plenty of sessions over the years. They were to perform with Mangione tonight at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo. He was born Gerald Navidosky Apr. 6, 1943 in Rochester. He received a Bachelor Of Music from Eastman School Of Music in 1970 and that's where he met Mangione. Niewood was a big part of Mangione's 1970 breathrough recording Friends And Love. Niewood plays several types of saxes along with flute. He toured with Mangione until he went solo in 1977 and released Gerry Niewood and Timepiece on A & M Records. Unfortunately Niewood wasn't successful as a solo artist but he continued to play on sessions by Walter Bishop Jr., Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Mark Murphy, Lena Horne, Cleo Laine, Peggy Lee & Nneena Freelon. Most significantly he played sax on Simon & Garfunkel's 1981 Central Park concert. He also led bands with Dave Samuels and later Joe Beck. Niewood returned to Mangione in the mid-90s and has toured with him ever since. Niewood's son Adam Niewood is a very popular sax player and has produced one of his dad's albums. Gerry Niewood is underrated mainly because his solo career never took off but he was a fine musician and he will be missed especially as a musical leader in Western New York. Here's Gerry Niewood playing soprano sax with Chuck Mangione performing Ichano at the 1975 Monterey Jazz Festival. RIP Gerry Niewood.
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