Just as acclaimed Birmingham jazz man Andy Hamilton would want, the music will go on without him.
The two bands set up by the sax legend will both perform over the next week following his death at the age of 94 last Sunday.
The Blue Notes, founded by Hamilton soon after he arrived in the UK from his native Jamaica in 1949, will perform at the Bearwood Corks Club, a venue he made his own, from 9pm tonight (Thursday, June 7).
And The Notebenders – founded by Andy and New Orleans musician Maurice Williams – will appear at the same venue next Thursday, June 14.
Organist Rudy Beckford said: “We should remember the good times and all that he did for people.”
Hamilton was a friend of Birmingham historian Prof Carl Chinn and lodged with the academic’s aunt in Moseley as he made his way in the UK.
A spokesman for Bearwood Corks Club said: “Andy had been ‘not so well, you know’ for some time.
“But he’s a fighter and got himself well enough to play his saxophone at his birthday in late March.
“Things looked promising when he took a turn for the better as recently as last Thursday, but it wasn’t to be and he passed away on Sunday morning.
“Our thoughts go out to all the Hamilton family, but most especially to his wife Mary.”
Tribute to city jazz legend: Post Life – Page 8
