All About Jazz is deeply saddened to report the news that one of its long-time contributors, Michael P. Gladstone, passed away on January 3, 2009 following a long battle with cancer. He was only 66. In the six years that Mike devoted to AAJ, he covered artists ranging from established names including John Abercrombie, Herbie Hancock and Maria Schneider to up-and-comers like David Binney, Edward Simon, Leonia Ardizzone and Nordic Connect. Mike was as passionate about the music as they come. Arlene, his wife of 43 years, writes:
We were married for 43 years. He was able to see both his children, daughter Carrie and son Darren, get married. He was able to have the joy of becoming a grandfather to his granddaughter, Avery. His love of music, film, theater, and books made him the “go to" person for many of his friends when they needed the definitive answer to a troublesome question. But the joke was, if you asked him a question, you would get “a pageant" for an answer.
His sense of humor endeared him to those who knew him. He would have his friends rolling in the aisles with his puns and off-the-cuff remarks. His passion for writing about the music he loved sustained him after his devastating diagnosis of multiple myeloma. As sick as he was, he always felt the responsibility of imparting his love for music to others. The internet discussions with other jazz aficionados had great healing qualities, especially after his first bone marrow transplant (he ultimately had two).
Throughout his entire battle with this unrelenting cancer he never bemoaned his fate. He was extremely proactive in looking for the best protocol that would extend his life.
In six years of volunteering his time to AAJ, Mike contributed over 525 CD reviews and concert reviews. If nobody ever truly dies because of the memories they leave behind, then Mike Gladstone will certainly live on--not just in the minds and hearts of the family and friends (and AAJ counts themselves amongst those friends) who will now have to make the difficult adjustment to life without him, but also to countless AAJ readers who relied upon him to help make sense of the hundreds of new releases vying for their attention each and every month.
Mike will surely be missed, and AAJ's thoughts and condolences are with Arlene, Carrie, Darren and the extended Gladstone family during this most difficult time.
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