The jazz world said farewell to many of its performers and supporting figures during 2003. So many, it departed that it seemed there would be a surge on the perpetual jazz big band -- wherever it lives on.

The most notable were saxophonist-trumpeter-arranger-composer Benny Carter -- one of the great, prolific and unheralded jazz composers of the 20th century -- plus percussionist Mongo Santamaria, singer-pianist Nina Simone, saxophonist Teddy Edwards, trombonist Jimmy Knepper, pianist Mal Waldron, flutist Herbie Mann and singer Celia Cruz.

Other deaths in 2003, and the closing weeks of 2002, included:

Trumpeters Billy Brooks, Webster Young, William Schimpf, Kid Bastien, Mardell Winstead, Walter Fuller; Ameen Muhammad and Cy Touff, and cornetist Ruby Braff; trombonists Jim Snyder, Grover Mitchell, Carl Fontana, Taswell Baird Jr., Sammy Sherman and Wayne Andre.

Also, saxophonists "Watergate Clyde" Dickerson, Allen Eager, Harold Ashby, William Leslie, Bill Perkins, Frank Lowe, Don Lanphere, Geoffrey Thaler, Gordon Cruickshank, Freddy Guerra, Buddy Arnold, Hans Koller and Carmen Campagnoli; and clarinetists Bob Helm, Peanuts Hucko and Tommy Gwaltney.