Dietrich Unkrodt

[tuba kitchen]

Dietrich Unkrodt passed away on June 26. He was best known as a soloist, teacher and his work with pianist/composer Hannes Zerbe in Germany, where he also played with the Komische Oper in Berlin and taught at the music school Hanns Eisler. He will be missed by students and collegues.

[imperialbari]

These are sad news.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

[dwaskew]

During the conference last week, we were able to honor his memory several different times. During one session, I was able to read a brief biography, along with comments I had been given from Markus Theinert and Heiko Treibener, and ended that with a moment of silence. Steven Mead and Jim Gourlay dedicated a performance to him on Tuesday morning. Then, on Friday, John Stevens conducted the combined All Star ensembles in a performance of his "Fanfare for a Friend", that John had written for Dietrich. And finally, we were able to perform "Kum Susser Tod" in his memory, with the massed ensemble at Red Rocks on Friday night.

A very sad passing, indeed.

[urbie watrous]

I saw Unkrodt and Zerbe at the IBC2 at Indiana in 1984. They were certainly the only group playing that kind of stuff, that week -- and man, did they open my ears. I'm not really into out-there improvised music, but those guys were two of the most creative players I'd heard in a long time....

Urb