Bassist and composer David Wertman died Dec. 14 in Northampton, Mass. The cause was cancer, according to an obituary on the Mass Live website. Wertman was 61.

Wertman played with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charles Tyler, Archie Shepp, Billy Bang, Arthur Blythe, Marion Brown, Ira Sullivan, Steve Reid and Dave Pike during his career, and was most active in the Northampton area.

Wertman recorded with his groups the Sun Ensemble and the Spirit Ensemble, and also played with several big bands and many pop artists.