Renowned Jazz saxophonist Gato Barbieri passes away

Latin Jazz saxophonist Leandro “Gato” Barbieri, who composed the Grammy-winning music for the steamy Marlon Brando film Last Tango in Paris and recorded dozens of albums over a career spanning more than seven decades, has died at age 83.

  • The Argentine-born musician recorded some 35 albums between 1967 and 1982, when he stopped consistently making new records.
  • He toured regularly and went on to record four more albums, including 1997’s smooth jazz “Que Pasa,” which reached No. 2 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz charts.
  • Though in poor health, Barbieri, still sporting his trademark black fedora hat, had been performing monthly at the Blue Note jazz club in New York, since 2013. He last performed at the club on Nov. 23.
  • Last year, Barbieri received a Latin Grammy lifetime achievement award for a career that covered “virtually the entire jazz landscape.” Barbieri won a Grammy for best instrumental composition in 1973 for his music for “Last Tango In Paris,” the controversial erotic drama starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider that earned two Oscar nominations.

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