Athens Jazz. I saw and heard Randy Andersen, trumpet, for the first and last time back in June at a Ciné jam session. Randy and his horn seemed the oldest of friends, and the two of them, I thought, belonged exactly where they were, left of the keys and right of the saxes, offering some especially loving and respectful contributions to the musical conversation.

Randy died this week after a long fight against cancer. He’ll be remembered at a service on Monday, November 2, at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph’s. Then we’ll all adjourn to Ciné for an extended jam session in Randy’s honor. Please join us at Ciné for what should be a beautifully fitting musical celebration of a jazz artist’s life.

Steve Key and Mitch Rothstein, who knew Randy well, say he moved to Athens in the early 1990’s to be closer to his mother’s family. Born in New York City, Randy grew up around jazz, shmoozing with some of the greats. He served as an Army musician, playing his horn across the U.S. and overseas.

During his years in Athens, Randy was jazz shepherd and evangelist, taking the initiative to put together a number of combos and big bands. Steve Key has a special memory of the night Randy hosted a Morton Theatre performance with saxophonist Billy Mitchell.

Randy studied jazz trumpet with one of the under-appreciated poets of the idiom, Dave Burns.