Trombonobit: Benny Powell

Benny Powell, trombonist with The Count Basie Orchestra has died, it was confirmed yesterday.

Powell was a member of the Basie Orchestra between 1951 and 1963, although he'd often pop back to help out on special occasions. Subsequently, he lead his own groups and got a regular gig as part of Merv Griffin's houseband. He moved into education during the 1980s; for sixteen years he had taught jazz at New York's New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. (It does raise the question of if there's an old school teaching contemporary music somewhere in the State.)

Powell was 80. He had been having spinal surgery which appears to have led to a fatal heart attack.