From New Orleans comes the sad news that pianist Hilton Ruiz is hospitalized and in a coma following an apparent assault. The New York-born pianist could play anything, and the proof is in his long association with the equally omnivorous Rahsaan Roland Kirk. That’s fast company.
Details seem sketchy at this point, and I’ll have more when I know more. For now, though, keep Ruiz in your prayers, or if you follow the Tibetan path, do tonglen for him.