Jazz French Hornist Robert Northern Dies at 86

American jazz french hornist Robert Northern of Washington, D.C., died on May 31, 2020, at the age of 86. Although Northern did have respiratory issues, the cause of death is unknown.

Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Robert Northern spent most of his early life in the Bronx. As a classically trained french hornist, Northern attended the Manhattan School of Music on full scholarship, only to be halted by the Korean War. During the Forgotten War, Northern served in the Air Force from 1953 to 1957. Many of his teachers included Gunther Schuller, Denis Brain, and Gottfried von Freiberg. While in Europe, Northern had the opportunity to perform with both the Vienna Philharmonic and the Wiesbaden Symphony.

It was his return to New York that began his pioneering career as a session musician for many of the jazz greats. His sound can be heard on the recordings of Gil Evans, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and McCoy Tyner. As an educator, Northern also taught at Dartmouth College and Brown University. In 1986, Northern moved to Washington, D.C., where he began to strengthen his impact on the music industry. Known professionally as “Brother Ah,” Northern hosted a weekly radio show The Jazz Collectors on Washington’s jazz radio station, WPFW.

To learn more about Robert Northern’s contributions to music and society, take a moment to read his in-depth interviews with Open Sky Jazz.

Featured Image Credit: Matt McClain/Washington Post