The publicist associated with trumpeter Bill Dixon has reported that Dixon died last night in his sleep at his longtime home in North Bennington, Vermont after a two-year illness. He was 84. Dixon is survived by his longtime partner Sharon Vogel and two children. Information about a memorial service and where to send donations in his name is forthcoming.

The trumpeter was a fixture on the improvisatonal jazz scene of New England. He was Professor of Music at Bennington College, Vermont, from 1968 until 1995. Over the course of his long career, he performed and recorded with Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, William Parker and other notable figures of the avant garde jazz scene.

Dixon was interviewed by Graham Lock in the May 2001 issue of JazzTimes.