Saxophonist, Marcelo Peralta is the first Jazz musician to die of coronavirus. The Argentine who had lived in Madrid for more than 2 decades, was 59.
Peralta, who was the first artiste the Jazz world would lose to the deadly disease, was renowned for his innovative approach to the avant-garde and South American musical traditions. He died March 10 at a hospital in Madrid, Spain. He was six days past his 59th birthday.
His death was first confirmed by his friend; fellow countryman and musician Guillermo Bazola, on Facebook, and also confirmed by the Buenos Aires newspaper Perfil.
A resident of Madrid since 1996, Peralta was hospitalized on his birthday with what was believed to be influenza. He later tested positive to coronavirus.
The musician dabbled into multiple jazz idioms, from bebop standards to avant-garde creative music. However, his most unique approach involved a hybrid of free improvisation with Argentine and other Latin folk forms
In addition to the tenor, alto, soprano and baritone saxophonist, he also played piano, accordion, aerophone, and several other instruments, which he used in interpreting his native musical traditions.
