In Memory of Joe Bonner- 1948-2014

Tim Wenger | December 2, 2014

In memory of Joe Bonner- 1948-2014

Popular jazz musician Joe Bonner has passed away, shortly after finishing work on what will be his final album entitled Current Events. Chris Guillot of Bonner’s label Cherry Sound Records shares a few words, along with some of the musician’s long-time friends.

I am sure many of you know of the recent passing of Joe Bonner. He was a brilliant vibrant musician, and great friend. I have been struggling to find words to share from my perspective, but still, I am having trouble finding them. He left a shining legacy of music for us to live on with into the future. At Cherry Sound, we had the great honor and privilege of helping to make his last record entitled “Current Events”. It is a collection of all original Joe Bonner compositions, performed solo by Joe Bonner on the Piano. We were planning on hosting a CD release party on December 19th at The Living Room. We will still be carrying through with this event. We will be playing music from Current Events, and showing documentary footage of the making of the album. We may also have some live music and some fun. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate this great man.

Joe was the first Jazz Musician I played with. There are references to a couple songs he loved in the poem.Wild Angel, unvarnished, mad scientist, virtuosity in service to ugly beauty, brash, bold, BADASS, crazy m f, and a really beautiful cat, a rascal on a rock! – Andy O’Leary

COMING FROM THE MODAL SCHOOL OF PLAYING ANCESTOR JOE BONNER IS MY 3 TOP PLAYERS OF ALL TIME- Charles Louis Brown

Joe will be greatly missed. May my 45+ year friend R.I.P.- Junius Fletcher Hicks