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sunriver · Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Sunriver, OR.

I was listening to my CD of Ed Bickert, Out of the Past and thought that I might see what other music he had recorded. I looked up Ed on Wikipedia and was saddened to read that he passed away last Thursday in Toronto.

I was always amazed at the tone he could coax out of his telecaster. It goes to show that talent goes a long way in bringing out that special jazz vibe that a lot of people are looking for.

He will be missed, I am sure by a lot of jazz folks around here.

Rich
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"All those who believe in telekenesis, raise my right hand" Kurt Vonnegut

Stackabones · Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 113 Location: Texas

+rip+
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I'm beginning to see the light.

sunflower · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 581

Ed Bicket started me out playing jazz
He was featured on a free flexidisc in Guitar Player yonks ago

I heard it and I was in love

God bless you Ed

alfonso · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 1256 Location: Sacramento

That's a shame, it's not just a loss to Canada. It's a loss to guitarists as a whole and especially to jazz guitarists all over the world. later

jazzerchick · Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 954 Location: SanAntonio , Tx

Such a wonderful player. I loved his playing. Truly one of the greats!

Jake Hanlon · Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 525 Location: Nova Scotia

****!

man this is like one of the worst ways to start out my day to find out Ed is dead. I'm looking around but I cannot find anything about it online, including Wikipedia. His passing, I would find it hard it would slip past me completely like this.

I was born and raised on the East Coast and when I started to get into Jazz I looked into trying to find out what was going on in my own country, low and behind Ed Bickert was not only a canadian Jazz monster but just in general he was one of the true greats. A real unsung hero of the instrument.
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Guitarist, Composer, Professor of Music St Francis Xavier University

www.jakehanlon.com

Debut Album Follow @ Itunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/follow/id406062013

cadence · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 285 Location: New Jersey

His death was taken off of Wikipedia because there is no conformation anywhere else. So for now people are assuming he is still alive.
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Paul

Jake Hanlon · Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 525 Location: Nova Scotia

i've checked, he's alive although his health is something I don't know anything about. But he's still alive according to people in the know.
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Guitarist, Composer, Professor of Music St Francis Xavier University

www.jakehanlon.com

Debut Album Follow @ Itunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/follow/id406062013

sunriver · Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Sunriver, OR.

Hi Everyone,

I stand humbly corrected (thankfully)! I guess that you can't trust Wikipedia. It is great news that he is still with us, and hope he is for a long time.

Thanks for doing some checking on this. I also thought that it was strange that other news sources didn't mention his passing, as he is a pretty large part of the jazz music scene. I should have done more checking myself.

Thanks for the update.

Rich
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"All those who believe in telekenesis, raise my right hand" Kurt Vonnegut

trotsky · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject:

Geesh what a roller coaster ride this thread has been this morning...
Ed Bickert is like a god to me. While living in Toronto I had the priviledge of witnessing his genius on many occasions and his concerts were highlights of my life. I knew he had retired from playing some time ago but hadn't heard much about him lately. Rolling Eyes

glygon · Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

greentone · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 667

Whew! We are losing many of the great jazz artists all the time. I'm glad to learn that Ed Bickert is still with us.

I'm going over to the den and playing some jazz on my Telecaster in tribute. The Telecaster, if you haven't taken Ed's lead, is extremely versatile and makes a fine jazz guitar on the neck pickup. Don't be afraid to string it with 11-52 (or heavier). It really brings the tone out.
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Soul Jazz & Blues

trotsky · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject:

10-4 on that score Greentone Wink

.
As for the tele I agree completely.
I played one all through music school with a humbucker in the neck spot and strung it heavy for Jazz. Sounded better than fine tone wise...as for the playing Rolling Eyes

Another nice thing about them is the fact that they are extremely low maintenance.
I remember once the strap on my gig bag broke on my way to a recital. I was on the stairwell and the tele bounced down two flights of stairs.
When I opened it up it wasn't even out of tune Laughing

Try that with the arch top.....On second thought don't Embarassed