Former Ray Charles clarinetist passes on

Byline

NEW ORLEANS — Alvin Batiste, the clarinetist who toured with Ray Charles, recorded with Branford Marsalis and taught pianist Henry Butler, has died. He was in his 70s.

Batiste died Sunday of an apparent heart attack, only hours before he was to perform with Harry Connick Jr. and Marsalis at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, festival officials said. While his exact age was not immediately known, festival officials said he was born in New Orleans in 1932.

Marsalis’ record label released Batiste’s latest CD, “Marsalis Music Honors Alvin Batiste,” just a few weeks ago. Marsalis also played on the album.

Batiste, a jazz clarinetist, was considered one of the founders of the modern jazz scene in New Orleans.

Batiste also wrote for and toured with influential drummer Billy Cobham and legendary alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley.

A longtime teacher at Southern University in Baton Rouge, he created the Batiste Jazz Institute — one of the first programs of its kind in the nation — and taught jazz at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

His students included Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Kent Jordan, Michael Ward, Herlin Riley, Charlie Singleton, Woodie Douglas and others.

Batiste recorded an album, “Bayou Magic” in 1988, and made the 1993 album “Late.” “Songs, Words and Messages, Connections” appeared in 1999.

(Associated Press)