Jeff Wexler Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 My son David's closest friend has died at age 22. Austin Peralta "OCTOBER 25, 1990 – NOVEMBER 21, 2012 Austin Peralta, a prodigious, barely 22-year-old pianist celebrated for uniting jazz with instrumental hip-hop and electronica, died Wednesday. While no official reports have yet surfaced, and no cause of death has yet been stated, word of Peralta’s shocking death began spreading virally late Wednesday. The son of skateboarder and film director Stacey Peralta, the Los Angeles-raised musician began piano lessons at the age of six, and later studied with pianist Alan Pasqua. At the age of 15 in 2006, he played the Tokyo Jazz Festival. Peralta recorded three CDs: Maiden Voyage, a 2006 disc that featured bassist Ron Carter; Mantra, also released in 2006, which featured vibraphonist Steve Nelson, and bassist Buster Williams; and last year’s Endless Planets, which featured saxophonist Ben Wendel. Peralta’s work for Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label and with bassist Thundercat (Steven Bruner, brother of drummer Ronald Bruner Jr., who played the Tokyo concert with Peralta shown above) made him a leading figure among young music fans keen on amalgamations between jazz and contemporary grooves and sonorities. Peralta performed in Ottawa almost a year ago at the Avant Garde Bar as the special guest of the Franky Rousseau Large Band. He was reported to have performed Tuesday night at the Blue Whale jazz club in Los Angeles." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramallo Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Sad so young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old school Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Nothing worse in this world than to die so young because of drugs. My condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace. CrewC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deep owl Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 My condolences to your son. I hope he and your family are keeping it together and you're all able to support the Peraltas. Austin was an amazing musician. Very inventive. Peace be with you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeoh Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 So sad for all involved. Condolences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Oh jeez. I'm so sorry to hear this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reid Posted November 25, 2012 Report Share Posted November 25, 2012 Jeff, I am sorry your son is grieving the loss of his best friend. Dieing at such a young age leaves such a large void for all who loved him with no edges softened. My condolences to your family and his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollandaudio Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Sorry for your sons loss. Just heard a track from Endless Planets on KCRW. Good stuff and then I put 2+2 together and realized it was the young man you mentioned in the forum. Jonathan Parham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blas Kisic Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 My sincere condolences. BK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 " friend has died at age 22. Drugs. " I hope that in David's grief, there is also an important and lasting lesson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 A nice article, and amazing clips, on NPR's Jazz blog: A Young Prodigy's Search, Cut Short http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2012/11/29/166030449/a-young-prodigys-search-cut-short "I learned about Austin Peralta, who died last week at age 22, the same way most folks away from Southern California's jazz scene did. For most intents and purposes, his third album, Endless Planets, put him on the national map. He was 20 when it came out in early 2011, and the child prodigy buzz was part of the hype around the record. Those who have been around the business grow a skeptical frown when someone mentions "child prodigy," but this was somewhat different. Endless Planets isn't a rote recital of precocious virtuosity, and even sounds thoughtfully designed to avoid that impression. Clearly, the kid behind it was trying to grow." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S Harber Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 Horrible. Just read about this now. I've worked with Stacey a number of times on commercials and docs through the years and he's a good person. He would brag quite a bit about his son's talent. The family, David, and those who knew him will have a tough time making sense of this. It's an unforgiving, ever changing, tricky world we live in and events like this define and change those they touch forever. As always, there are lessons to be had and time bears that out. Having lost family members in similar ways I can only give you my love let you know that there's loads of places to go to sort things like out, express your grief or to get help. Use those resources. Scott Harber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McL Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 Unimaginable grief around this...much love to you and your dear son, Jeff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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