[Dixielandjazz] Pianist, composer, arranger Clare Fischer dies at 83--LA Times

[Don Ingle]

On 1/27/2012 6:54 PM, Norman Vickers wrote:
> To Musicians and Jazzfans; DJML
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> From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola
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> Clare Fischer dies at 83; versatile pianist, composer, arranger
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> The Grammy-winning musician's interests included jazz, Latin and pop music,
> and he released more than 50 albums under his name.
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> it is also called the Pittman-Robertson fundews clip said:
>     (Clare) Fischer died Thursday at Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank
> of complications of a
>   heart attack suffered two weeks ago, according to family
> spokeswoman Claris Dodge.
>
> Don Ingle added:
I knew Clare at Michigan State- he was two years ahead of me but our 
paths crossed often - I even gigged with him a time or two, but
we were out of two different schools of musical thought. But he was a 
marvelous player - much technique, very advanced ideas, and an early 
enthusiast for Latin music.
Sorry to learn of his passing. Guess the old clock is ticking away too 
fast these days. But music helps keep us alive in spirit and sometimes 
even in body.
Vaya con Dios, Clare - an old MSU alum will remember you fondly.

>
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> Although Fischer entered the professional music world through jazz, his
> expansive creative perspective quickly grew to embrace many other musical
> areas.
>
> "I relate to everything," he explained in a 1987 interview with The Times.
> "I'm not just jazz, Latin or classical. I really am a fusion of all of
> those, not today's fusion, but my fusion." He went on to describe his
> fascination with Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Bartok, as well as
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/duke-ellington-PECLB001555
> .topic>  Duke Ellington, Bud Powell, Lee Konitz,
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/tito-puente-PECLB00000060478.top
> ic>  Tito Puente and boogie-woogie pianist Meade Lux Lewis.
>
> Regardless of the area in which he was working, Fischer's arranging and
> composing always possessed a rich harmonic palette, one that attracted and
> influenced other musicians.
>
> "Clare Fischer was a major influence on my harmonic concept," noted
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/herbie-hancock-PECLB0000006506.t
> opic>  Herbie Hancock, describing Fischer's arrangements for the 1950s vocal
> group the Hi-Lo's as having a significant impact upon his own recording,
> "Speak Like a Child."
>
> Fischer's arranging was especially valued by pop and rock artists for the
> lush, classical qualities of the textures he created, especially for string
> ensembles. Working closely with his son, Brent Fischer, also an arranger and
> conductor, he provided arrangements and orchestrations for Paul McCartney,
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/chaka-khan-PECLB00000060967.topi
> c>  Chaka Khan,
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/carlos-santana-PECLB001776
> 4442.topic>  Carlos Santana, Rufus,
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/brandy-%28singer%29-PECLB0
> 00644.topic>  Brandy, Prince and numerous others. His first film credit was
> the music for Prince's "Under the Cherry Moon."
>
> In addition to his writing efforts, Fischer was a busy studio keyboardist,
> performing, composing or arranging for commercials, film and television
> scores, and more than 100 albums for other artists.
>
> He also released more than 50 albums under his own name in a recording
> career that began in 1962 with the Pacific Records album "First Time Out."
> His diverse ensembles included the Latin group
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/arts-culture/genres/salsa-%28genre%29-01011000
> 255.topic>  Salsa Picante; the vocal ensemble 2 + 2; his Clarinet Choir; a
> big, 30-piece band called Clare Fischer's Jazz Corps; solo piano
> performances; pairings with Donald Byrd,
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/gary-foster-PECLB0000011569.topi
> c>  Gary Foster, Jerry Coker and others; and a duo with Fischer's digital
> piano and the acoustic guitar of Helio Delmiro.
>
> "After the Rain," produced in 2001, was his first classical recording, a
> collection of his symphonic works.
>
> He won two Grammy awards, in 1981 for "Clare Fischer and Salsa Picante
> Present 2+2" and in 1986 for "Freefall."
>
> Douglas Clare Fischer was born Oct. 22, 1928, in Durand, Mich., the third of
> four children. His first instruments were violin and piano. By the time he
> was in his teens, after his family had moved to Grand Rapids, he was
> composing and writing arrangements for big dance bands. His versatility as
> an instrumentalist grew to include cello, clarinet and saxophone during his
> high school years. In 1947, he entered Michigan State University, majoring
> in composition and theory, graduating in 1951 cum laude with a bachelor's
> degree in music.
>
> After serving in the
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/u.s.-army-ORGOV00
> 00126141142.topic>  U.S. Army, he returned to Michigan State, receiving a
> master's in music in 1955.
>
> Fischer's professional career escalated in the late 1950s during his
> five-year association as pianist/arranger/conductor with the musically
> adventurous Hi-Lo's. But it was his arrangements for Dizzy Gillespie's 1960
> album, "A Portrait of Duke Ellington," that brought him the full attention
> of the jazz community. Albums for George Shearing, Cal Tjader, Bud Shank and
> Joe Pass followed. In the mid-'70s a reunion with Tjader also revived
> Fischer's fascination with Latin music via his Salsa Picante group. His
> affection for Brazilian music in general, and bossa nova in particular,
> resulted in albums such as "So Danco Samba," "Lembrancas" and "Symbiosis."
>
> In the '80s, Fischer became an arranger and orchestrator of choice for many
> major pop artists.
>
> In 1988, Fischer had a freeway encounter with another driver that climaxed
> in a physical confrontation at the side of the road. Fischer, 60 at the
> time, was pushed to the ground by the combined assault of the driver and his
> companion, suffering a hairline
> <http://www.latimes.com/topic/health/human-body/skull-fracture-HEINW000010.t
> opic>  skull fracture and a concussion. He was in the hospital, in and out of
> consciousness for two weeks. It took nearly a year before he was able to
> return to music.
>
> "If I discovered anything in that strange, 10-month period of recovery," he
> said in a 1992 interview, "it's that music is the one thing that makes me
> sane."
>
> He is survived by his wife, Donna; his children, Lee, Brent and Tahlia; two
> stepchildren, Lisa and Bill Bachman; three grandchildren; and a brother,
> Stewart.
>
>   <mailto:news.obits at latimes.com>  news.obits at latimes.com
>
> Copyright C 2012,<http://www.latimes.com/>  Los Angeles Times
>
>
>
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