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Dave McKenna: Master Jazz Pianist Dies

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Dave McKenna was widely regarded as one of the all-time legends of the jazz piano, but often shunned the spotlight to live and work on the Cape.

McKenna, who was 78 when he died yesterday in Pennsylvania from lung cancer, is widely regarded among jazz musicians as one of the best jazz pianists ever to play. Born in Woonsocket, R.I., McKenna moved to the Cape in 1966 to raise his sons Stephen and Douglas.

Jack Bradley, a friend of McKenna's for 50 years and a local jazz historian, said McKenna's contributions to American music cannot be understated.

McKenna's strong left hand and powerful baseline immediately set him apart from other players, and contrasted with his humble attitude and quiet personality.

“He was a giant but he never received the credit he was due," Bradley said. “He always played with the greats but he was greater than many of the greats he played with."

Bradley said tickets to hear a pianist of McKenna's caliber would cost a fortune in New York City, but Cape residents could listen to McKenna in local establishments for next to nothing. “A lot of his fans, including myself, took him for granted because he was here and always available," Bradley said.

McKenna's son Douglas, 44, said he remembers listening to his father play at The Columns in West Dennis. It was McKenna's favorite place on the Cape to play, along with the East Bay Lodge in Osterville. The pianist and his boys lived in South Yarmouth and South Dennis during their time together on the Cape.

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