Pianist Masabumi ‘Poo’ Kikuchi has died at the age of 75. His death has been reported by ECM who released a single album by the Tokyo-born player, Sunrise, three years ago. Kikuchi died in New York. There has been a steady stream of reaction to his death from fans online.
Sad to hear the passing of Masabumi Kikuchi. He played beautiful music, always with a lot of integrity. pic.twitter.com/JIxLTRV0z3
— Vincent Ruiz (@RuizVincent) July 7, 2015
Masabumi Kikuchi played with luminaries such as Lionel Hampton as a young man, in the 1970s working with Gil Evans and Elvin Jones.
Rest in Power, Masabumi Kikuchi. Worth revisiting his recent album ‘Sunrise,’ and this profile by @benratliff http://t.co/wznMWL3w3h #RIP
— Nate Chinen (@natechinen) July 7, 2015
えぇ?。菊地雅章さん亡くなったの?。すごく残念です。 http://t.co/dcnJqzhWZW
— たろ (@taroruru) July 7, 2015
Kikuchi albums included Melancholy Gil, Dreamachine and East Wind (top) while as a sideman he appeared in bands led by Pee Wee Ellis, Terumasa Hino, the singer Helen Merrill and Paul Motian and significantly on a series of Tethered Moon albums for the German Winter & Winter label. No cause of death has been given.