Locals Help Honor Late Jazz Musician, Dwayne Burno
Wendy Watel-Burno has three words to describe her husband Dwayne Burno.
“He was music.”
This week the community will get its chance to honor the Fort Greene jazz bassist, who passed away at 43 from complications of kidney disease, in a memorial service and concert at St. Peter’s Church in Manhattan.
The community support began pouring in hours after his death on Dec. 28, Watel-Burno said. Friends Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley, Clinton Hill-based husband-and-wife filmmakers, set up an online fundraiser to help cover expenses. Despite his illness, Burno had been the family’s main financial support. Watel-Burno works part-time at the after-school program at P.S. 11, where their 7-year-old son Quinn attends school.
“It’s been unbelievable,” said Watel-Burno. “There’s a lot of musicians in this community, and people just offered all kinds of love and support.”
In the past month, more than 200 people have donated $23,000 to the fundraiser. The funds will cover moving expenses – the Burnos had planned to move to a garden apartment, since his health made it difficult to climb stairs – and other expenses since Burno’s death. Watel-Burno said she sees the names of donors and “eight times out of ten, I don’t know who it is.”
Watel-Burno met Burno two days after she moved to New York City in 1997.
She accompanied a friend who was a saxophone player to a soundcheck. “Dwayne was on stage and we just locked eyes,” Watel-Burno said. “Later my friend said, ‘All I’m saying is that he asked about you too.'”
Burno had lived in Fort Greene since 1990, moving to an apartment on Washington Avenue and Gates Avenue with several other musicians. One of his first gigs was playing in the trio that accompanied jazz singer Betty Carter. He later played with musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis and Joe Chambers. He also led his own group, the Dwayne Burno Quintet.
Despite his illness, Watel-Burno said, he was still committed to playing music, going straight from dialysis to a performance. “I’d literally have to cut off the hospital bracelet before he could get on stage,” Watel-Burno said.
Burno played for the last time on Christmas Day at Smalls in the West Village with several friends. “He always wanted to go out like that, playing his best,” Watel-Burno said.
Watel-Burno said that she can’t thank the community enough for its support.
“I’m just so grateful for people opening their hearts to us,” Watel-Burno said. “As horrible as it is, it really feels like it’s going to be ok.”
The Jazz Foundation of America, which helped the Burnos financially when Burno first became sick, has organized a memorial service at St. Peter’s Church on 619 Lexington Avenue on Feb. 1 at 3 p.m.
