From Scott Hanley -

This week, we heard the news of the death of NEA Jazz Master - vocalist Cassandra Wilson, who died Wednesday at the age of 70. The talented grammy winner had a sultry, flexible voice and a knack for exploration of a wide range of musical sources. Pittsburgh native Doug Doyle and jazz radio colleague Gary Walker shared at wonderful remembrance at the website of WBGO in Newark/New York at this link. https://www.wbgo.org/music/2026-09-02/wbgo-mourns-the-loss-of-nea-jazz-master-and-two-time-grammy-award-winning-vocalist-cassandra-wilson?

I admired and had met Cassandra over the years - a fabulous, creative force from Mississippi who embraced a very large musical vision.

Also passing this week was an artist who was also a personal friend - a legendary guitarist that you may not have heard of but most assuredly have heard. Gene Bertoncini, longtime New Yorker, died last weekend at the Actors home in Englewood, NJ. at the age of 89. Gene had a legion of friends, associates and students - and could tell amazing jokes along with playing world-class guitar. If you find posts on the internet with stories - read them.

We all have our own takes on Gene. I will share some of mine.

Gene earned a degree in architecture from Northwestern University, but proceeded to go back to New York City to work in music (I recall he said the only property he fully designed was a house for his brother). Gene spent decades in his “little apartment in the middle of Manhattan” - with a parking space for his car, which for many years was a (1966?) Mustang. Sadly, that car was wrecked on a trip back to New York from a gig I attended at IUP in Indiana Pennsylvania in, if I recall correctly, 1995.

Gene came back from Northwestern to work as a musician full time in New York. Still in his 20’s, he landed a coveted job with the Skitch Henderson-led band for the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He was also a first call studio musician, including appearing on numerous albums such as Nancy Wilson’s “But Beautiful” with Hank Jones, Grady Tate and Ron Carter. He was also in the studio for a lot of sessions for Burt Bacharach and recorded and performed with Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae, Tony Bennett and many others.

I first became keenly aware of Gene Bertonicini in the early 1980’s from an album he did in the late 1970’s with bassist Michael Moore. His incorporation of jazz, classical and Brazilian sounds and techniques was very different and, to me, intriguing. By 1987, I had met him in New York at a JazzTimes Convention (same time I met Roy Eldridge and vocalist/guitarist Jackie Paris and more - I have to dig out those cassettes with the interviews).

Little did I know that his Northwestern connection would loop our lives back together in major ways.

Jim Gould was an attorney and jazz enthusiast in Grand Rapids Michigan when I worked at a station there (WGVU AM/FM/TV at Grand Valley State University). Jim Gould went to Northwestern with Gene - and they stayed in contact over the 20+ years since graduation. Later in ‘87 or ‘88, Gene was booked for a “Lunchbreak” concert at Grand Valley State - concerts which I routinely recorded for the station. Connected to that event was a jazz house-party that attorney Jim Gould held at his home. Jim and his wife Nancy would hold scores of jazz legends in their home in the years that followed. I was also, then, involved with creating a new Jazz series with the St Cecilia Music Society (a very old music center in Grand Rapids), the radio station and the West Michigan Jazz Society - and we made sure Gene was on the roster.

Gene had become aware that I was a singer - and I would occasionally sit in at informal events. By 1992, he suggested we record - which we did, with the help of broadcaster and musician Ed Spier. I have finally put some of those recordings out all these years later, at the encouragement of Gene Bertoncini.

In 2019, Gene and I caught up in person for the first time in probably 9 years. It was at the Jazz at Lincoln Center “Jazz Congress,” but also the night before that at the Knickerbocker restaurant in Greenwich Village.

On radio show, I share some of that chat - which includes just before I put Joe Negri’s phone number into Gene’s fairly new iPhone (Gene and Joe connected later that day).

By Spring of 2020, Gene was keeping busy, but struggling like everyone through Covid. A year later, he was able to put together a recital at the Eastman School of music.

Gene Bertoncini - 1990’s Publicity Photo

A bit after that, mobility issues made is Manhattan apartment impractical and he moved to a residence in the Actors Home in Englewood, NJ (the many years on the Tonight Show, Merv Griffin Show and others was a blessing in new ways).

A reminder - call your friends and family. Don’t think about it. Call!

Gene Bertoncini and Scott Hanley at Jazz at Lincoln Center, January 2020

So, for much of this hour, it’s me and Gene. But, mostly, Gene.

Music and and appreciation -

The Scene - Thursdays at 6pm, Friday at Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 5pm on WZUM.