Jon Hassell, Genre-Bending Trumpeter and Composer, Dies at 84

Jon Hassell, a trumpeter and composer whose music crossed multiple genres of music throughout his career, died on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the age of 84. According to a statement released by his family, Hassell died of natural causes, though had been suffering through health complications for roughly a year.

As a trumpeter, Jon Hassell studied classical music and composition at the Eastman School of Music before gaining interest in electronic music. Due to winning a grant, Hassell was able to study composition with Karlheinz Stockhausen in Germany where he began to experiment with different, boundary-defying sounds. As an active musician and composer for the last 50 years, Hassell recorded numerous albums as a leader, many of which became notable albums, including his debut album Vernal Equinox (1977), a record that is listed on Pitchfork’s 50 Best Ambient Albums of All Time.

The inventor of “Fourth World” music, Hassell has worked alongside many modern musicians composers such as Brian Eno, Terry Riley, La Monte Young, Talking Heads, and Peter Gabriel.

Click the following links to read more about Jon Hassell in the New York Times and Pitchfork.