Blue Note reissues albums by jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown

Far too many gifted jazz musicians have died young, often from foolish lifestyle choices.

Trumpeter Clifford Brown, however, was renowned for clean living at a time when the many jazzmen who idolised Charlie Parker regarded heroin addiction as a badge of honour.

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins, one of many who went through a junkie phase, cites Brown as an inspiration to stay clean. "He showed me that it was possible to lead a good, clean life and still be a good jazz musician," he has said.

Quincy Jones called Brown "the very essence of musical and moral maturity" and said his name would "stand as a symbol of the ideals every jazz musician should strive to attain".

The fact that Brown was clearly such an admirable man, as well as a gifted composer and probably the finest trumpeter of his generation, makes the tragedy of his loss seem particularly stark.

Brown was taken by that other great killer of hardworking musicians: the road. He had already survived one major motoring accident, but on the night of June 26, 1956, the car transporting Brown and his pianist Richie Powell to their next engagement in Chicago skidded off the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Powell's wife Nancy was driving, and she and both passengers were killed.