Publicado
Sun, Jun 27, 2021, 07:57
- The influential musician died of natural causes on June 26th.
Jon Hassell has died aged 84.
A statement from Hassell's family revealed the Memphis-born artist died "peacefully in the early morning hours of natural causes," after a "year of fighting through health complications."
Hassell is best known as the inventor of the Fourth World, a sound he once described as "the merging of the traditional and spiritual side from the Third World with the First World technology." The development of this theory stemmed from a musical education that included time spent in juke joints and studies with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pandit Pran Nath. He'd go on to collaborate with the likes of Terry Riley, David Sylvian, Moritz von Oswald and Brian Eno, to name just a few.
While the composer and trumpet player peaked commercially with a record Eno produced and is partially credited on, 1980's Fourth World Vol. 1 - Possible Musics, Hassell LPs such as Dream Theory In Malaya (Fourth World Volume Two), Aka / Darbari / Java - Magic Realism and Power Spot remain touchstones within experimental and electronic music. Hassell was making accomplished records nearly up to the time of his death. Last year, he released the second instalment in his Pentimento series, Seeing Through Sound.
In 2020, a GoFundMe was launched on behalf of Hassell. Brian Eno spoke in support of his friend and collaborator at the time, calling him "one of the most influential composers of the last 50 years." Hassell's family states those funds will now allow his "tremendous personal archive... much unreleased, to be preserved and shared for years to come.
Figures from around the electronic music world mourned Hassell's passing.
For more on Jon Hassell check out our RA Rewind review of his 1978 debut LP, Vernal Equinox, featuring a 2020 interview with the legendary artist.
Read Andy Beta's 2017 feature, Fourth World In The 21st Century.
Listen to the RA Exchange with Jon Hassell.
Watch a live show featuring the Jon Hassell Concert Group at the World Trade Center in 1989.