Not everyone will notice the passing of Charlie Haden but then again, not everyone noticed him when he was alive. That is the role of the bass player, and the better you are sometimes the less you are noticed.

Haden did many amazing things, and played on many great records. There are too many to list but everyone’s musical life is poorer without at least trying the Liberation Music Orchestra.

But his epitaph should be his own wonderful composition “Spiritual”, either in its original form (without words)

 

Or with words by his son Josh Haden and his group Spain from the beautiful album “The Blue Moods Of Spain”

 

Sad to know that he’s leaving.

-TH

[NB – I once, at the height of 4 Seasons frenzy had a heated argument over who was more important musically – Charlie or Nigel Kennedy. It was a stupid argument in non-musical company, and their line related mostly to Kennedy’s sales. As Haden’s legacy is reflected upon, I feel ever more confident that I was right. Not that I need the last word 20+ years later or anything …}