“Wayne Shorter, my best friend, left us with courage in his heart, love and compassion for all, and a seeking spirit for the eternal future. He was ready for his rebirth. As it is with every human being, he is irreplaceable and was able to reach the pinnacle of excellence as a saxophonist, composer, orchestrator, and recently, composer of the masterful opera Iphigenia. I miss being around him and his special Wayne-isms but I carry his spirit within my heart always.”
- “The world has lost a real heavyweight,” Larry Goldings says
Keyboardist Jim Beard, a longtime member of Steely Dan’s touring band, has died at 63.
The news was first reported by Billboard magazine, which cited a Steely Dan rep who said Beard died March 2 “due to complications from a sudden illness.”
“He wrote, recorded, arranged and produced some absolutely stunning music, in its sophistication and beauty,” Larry Goldings said in eulogizing his fellow keyboardist.
“The world has lost a real heavyweight.”
Before joining Steely Dan in 2008, Beard toured and recorded with Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter, Steve Vai, David Sanborn and others, while finding the time to work as a producer and record six solo LPs.
Beard was a “friend and mentor” to former Tedeschi Trucks Band bassist Tim Lefebvre, who had one word to describe the late musician: “Genius.”
“Jim was one of my all-time musical heroes,” said James Raymond, who frequently collaborated with his father, David Crosby.
“A wonderful pianist, synthesist, composer, arranger and producer. … Condolences and thoughts for his family”