Jazz great Sam Rivers died on Monday, the saxophonist's family announced. He was 88.
According to the New York Times, pneumonia was the cause of death.
Rivers' multi-decade career included stints with Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, including his contributions to the 1964 "Miles in Tokyo" live album.
With bands of his own, he released several albums for Blue Note Records including the influential post-bop set "Fuchsia Swing Song." In the '70s, River and wife Beatrice opened the New York loft performance space Studio Rivbea, a key addition to the experimental jazz scene. After moving to Florida in his later years, he performed and recorded with the Rivbea All-Star Orchestra as well as in smaller combos.
In addition to the tenor and soprano saxophone, Rivers played flute and piano and served as a composer and arranger.
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