You are right...he loved jazz. One of his favorite artists was Maynard Ferguson.
I asked him years ago who he liked...his answer.....
I also like blues players like Stevie Ray Vaughan, vocalists like Al Hibbler, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughn, June Cristy, piano players like Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck, George Shearing, jazz guitarist like, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt, Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Joe Pass, singing groups like The Four Freshman, Hi-Lows, jazz trombone players like, Frank Rosolino, J.J. Johnson, Carl Fontana, Bill Watrous, Kai Winding, and the great Bill Harris with Woody Herman’s Thundering heard band of the middle 40’s!!
d:o)
I'm late getting news of Blackie passing away. He was one of the first I made contact with after posting my first thread on FR - it was about the no nukes issue (US/NZ)... ironically, in the last two days there's been a resolve on that issue.
I'd phone Blackie every so often and he tried his best to understand me, as his hearing wasn't that good and neither is my accent but he was always pleased I was checking in. He loved his motorbike and that white Ford ute with the performance chip he'd fitted! He sent eMAILs each day to me and others. He'll be sadly missed and I thank the Lord for the time we had for each other over the years. Thoughts and prayers from New Zealand for Barb and for Blackie's son who was down in California way last I heard.