Remembering Bern Nix

1947–2017

(Letters)

4 June 2017

To the Editor:

Sadly, I am writing to inform the readers of WV of the passing of Bern Nix, who died this past week in New York City of a heart attack at the age of 69. Bern was an incredible guitarist, best known for his work with jazz visionary Ornette Coleman, as well as an ardent supporter of the Partisan Defense Committee (PDC). Being a guitarist myself, I always marveled at how Bern simultaneously created a guitar style which was immediately identifiable as his, while at the same time complementing and enriching Ornette’s music. Bern not only attended numerous PDC Holiday Appeals for Class War Prisoners, his trio was the “house band” for the 19th Holiday Appeal in NYC in December 2004, and featured guest artists Oliver Lake, Roy Campbell, Anthony Coleman and Ursel Schlicht. Because of Bern’s participation and the participation of the guest musicians, this was one of the most successful Holiday Appeals ever in NYC. His death is not only a substantial loss to the world of music, but a loss to the struggle to free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all class-war prisoners.

Jeffrey Schanzer