DaveZoller

The roster of 'Texas Tenors' includes, at minimum, Buddy Tate, Illinois Jacquet, David 'Fathead' Newman, Don Wilkerson, Jimmy Giuffre, Budd Johnson, Booker Ervin, King Curtis, James Clay, Arnett Cobb, Curtis Amy, Dewey Redman...

and-especially-Marchel Ivery.

Marchel was a gifted musician, a great performer and a cornerstone of the jazz community in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. He set high musical standards and took care of business. He was a role model for all of us.

It was a privilege to play with him because he was a spiritual direct line to the masters of the idiom we all love. It was both a challenge and a joy to try to match the fire, passion and love he showed in his playing, every tune, every set, every gig.

Making music with him was one of the great joys of my life.

He was also my dear friend and one of my heroes.

To lose him this soon was unthinkable. He is irreplaceable. We will all miss him terribly.