Saxophonist and clubowner Fred Anderson is currently in critical condition at Saint Francis Hospital as a result of cardiac arrest that occurred at the hospital Monday morning.
The 81-year-old tenor saxist has acted as father figure for three generations of avant-garde musicians in Chicago, many of whom developed their skills playing with Anderson and others at the Velvet Lounge, the world-famous club he has owned since 1982. During that time, he has become an especially well-loved presence on the Chicago scene (and increasingly, the world stage), inspiring compositions in his honor and continuing to perform with the power and durability of players half his age.
A spokeswoman for Anderson requested that friends and supporters not visit him at this time, and that they also refrain from calling the hospital. “It’s very crowded in the I.C.U.,” she said, “and the nurses are being inundated with calls. It’s not their job to handle that,” she added, while expressing appreciation for the outpouring of concern.
Anderson entered the hospital on Sunday with abdominal pains and was kept overnight. Monday, as he was headed for tests, he suffered cardiac arrest. Since then, a family spokesman reports, his condition has worsened. It is not expected that doctors will have a complete assessment of his prognosis until Thursday or Friday.
Sources close to Anderson, some of whom spent Monday at the hospital with him, have expressed dismay at live-blogging updates of his condition, which offer in effect a “countdown” about his situation. (These have already caused a secondary concern: the fear that a media frenzy and unconfirmed rumors could jeopardize the long-term future of the Velvet Lounge, which is Anderson’s legacy.)
Out of respect for Anderson and those around him – several of whom reminded me that Anderson has always been a very private person – your Chicago Jazz Examiner will wait until a substantive picture of his condition emerges before any further reports.
In the meantime, Nicole Mitchell, the Chicago flutist and composer who has been especially close with Anderson, suggests that the best way to show support for the saxist – and to “send positive energy” his way – would be to pack the Velvet Lounge this weekend.
Mitchell received the award for “best flutist” from the Jazz Journalists Association, at ceremonies in New York that were streamed to a “satellite party” at the Jazz Showcase here in Chicago. She learned of her win more than eight hours after it was announced, since she did not attend the party in Chicago; instead, she was at Anderson’s bedside in Evanston.
Comments
I could just cry.
Thank you for this article, Neil. I would like to offer a bit of good news as I have been at the hospital several times in the last 48 hours. Without going into medical details, Fred appears to be improving and his condition, although serious, is stabilizing. Fred has been family to myself and Hamid for many years-- and because Hamid is on a European tour, I have been fortunate to be one of many loved ones able to sit and wait for his full return. His beautiful face has a new light today. The outpouring of love, prayers, and energy has certainly been felt. Love to all who hold Fred in their hearts.
Listen to Fred Anderson
Thank you for this tactful posting, Neil. I was saddened when I first heard of Fred's hospital stay and agree that the best way for us to show support is to attend the Velvet Lounge.
I first learned of Fred Anderson's hospital stay from the sister of tuba player Aaron Dodd (who played with 8 Bold Souls, Phil Corhan's Artistic Heritage Ensemble, The Pharaohs, Donny Hathaway and many others). The Velvet Lounge was the last indoor venue Aaron played. Coincidentally, Aaron was in the same hospital when Fred was admitted. Unfortunately Aaron passed away there Wednesday night after a year of being bedridden with lung and heart problems.
Yes... thanks for the updates. I just met Fred last week at the Velvet as I was visiting my son at iit... from Durango Colorado.
Fortunately, I host a weekly Jazz radio show in my home town and was able to play some of his pieces and ask my listeners for their assistance at sending some brilliant white light to surround Fred.
... thanks Clay for the enlighten updates.
best 'all'
-michael
Well, any updates or do I go to the Trib?
Have to agree on the question on updates here. This is not much of a Chicago Jazz Blog when you can't turn to it for news on the death of one of Chicago's greatest and influential jazz artists, even with the unfortunate path this story took previously (and elsewhere). It's 3:05 p.m., the story's been out for 24 hours practically and I've had to turn to the Trib, Sun Times, Reader and even the L.A. Times, which believe it or not, ran a nice little piece on Fred.
Mike G and Billy: Thanks for thinking of me first in terms of news of this type, and sorry you had to wait to read about Fred here. But it was more important to me to get it right than to rush something onto the Web. While I appreciate the 24/7 nature of the Internet -- and am flattered by your faith in my ability to keep up with that -- in stories of a sensitive nature like this, I will always choose to be a little later if that's what it takes to meet my own standards. I figured you didn't need me to report the basic facts, which were already available by Friday morning (although again, I'm flattered that you thought to look here first). SO I took a few moments to collect my thoughts and say goodbye to my friend in the best way I could.
I certainly do aim for timeliness on this site, and in most matters I think I'll live up to your expectations. But there will be exceptions, and this was one of them.
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