Steve Reid, a jazz drummer whose epic list of past collaborators includes the likes of Miles Davies, Fela Kuti, James Brown, Four Tet, and Sun Ra, died last night after a battle with cancer, reports his record label in the U.K., Domino. He was 66.
Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden, Reid’s friend, collaborator, and “musical soul mate,” made the following statement:
Steve was one of my great friends and the most wonderful musician I have ever encountered. The music and adventures we shared have been some of the most happy and meaningful experiences I’ve ever had. A true inspiration. He lived a great life and gave us incredible music. I’ll miss him forever
News of the legendary drummer’s passing first broke early this morning when DJ Gilles Peterson reacted to the story on Twitter: “devastated by the news that my friend drummer Steve Reid passed away last night in New York,” wrote Peterson, “— a true inspiration who will be greatly missed.”
Watch Reid and Hebden perform “Brain,” from 2007’s Tongues, below: