
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 28, 1994                   TAG: 9406080053
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MUSICIAN RED RODNEY DIES

The trumpeter and band leader Red Rodney, known for his association with Charlie Parker, died Friday at his home in Boynton Beach, Fla. He was 66.

The cause was lung cancer, said his wife, Helene.

odney, whose original name was obert Chudnick, was one of jazz's best imporvisors. a trumpeter whose geniality on and off the bandstand belied his ability to form perfect, competition-crushing solos onstage.

In his later years, Rodney blosomed as a ballad player. He would take a melody and wring it for its meaning, using a soft, full tone and daring harmonic ideas to underscore its signifance.

Rodney exemplified the idea of wit in his improvisations, trying not so much for innovation as a soloist as for creativity within the basic confines of be-bop.

by CNB