Legendary jazz drummer Alphonse Mouzon has died at the age of 68 after being diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in September. He had started a crowdfunding site to help pay for treatment.
Mouzon passed away on Christmas Day at his home in the Granada Hills area of Los Angeles. According to his son Jean-Pierre, the drummer suffered cardiac arrest.
Just two weeks ago, guitarist Larry Coryell, who was in Melbourne for a residency at Bird’s Basement, said that he was hoping that Mouzon would recover and be able to take part in an Eleventh House reunion tour in 2017.
Mouzon had been a founder member in Coryell’s group and also played in the first line-up of influential jazz-rock group Weather Report. Mouzon had also played with McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and Al DiMeola.
Mouzon recorded with Tommy Bolin, Betty Davis and Tim Hardin. As well as his jazz playing, Mouzon toured with Santana, Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder. Led Zeppelin’s Jon Bonham cited him as an influence. (Early in his career Mouzon even played with Chubby Checker).
After moving to New York he played with Cannonball Adderley prior to playing on a session with Wayne Shorter who recruited him for Weather Report.
Mouzon started Tenacious Records in 1992 and released many of his own recordings on the label with the last album being Angel Face in 2011.
