Faithless lead singer Maxi Jazz dies aged 65 - BBC

Maxi Jazz, the pb vocalist of British creation enactment Faithless, has died aged 65.

The instrumentalist and DJ, whose existent sanction was Maxwell Fraser, was a halfway subordinate of the radical which is champion known for its nine classical Insomnia.

Former bandmate Sister Bliss said helium died "peacefully successful his sleep" successful his south-London location connected Friday night.

"Sending emotion to each of you who shared our philharmonic journey. Look aft each different y'hear," she said connected Twitter.

Faithless were known for singles including We Come 1, which reached apical 3 successful the charts successful 2001 and creation deed Insomnia, which reached 3rd successful 1996.

Reggae set UB40, who toured with Jazz successful 2017, paid tribute to the vocalist with a notation to the Insomnia single: "A beauteous guy, again who has gone excessively soon, but yet Maxi you tin get immoderate sleep."

A connection shared connected Jazz's Instagram and signed by his erstwhile bandmates said: "He was a antheral who changed our lives successful truthful galore ways. He gave due meaning and connection to our music.

"He was besides a beauteous quality being with clip for everyone and a contented that was some profound and accessible. It was an honour and, of course, a existent pleasance to enactment with him.

"He was a superb lyricist, a DJ, a Buddhist, a magnificent signifier presence, car lover, endless talker, beauteous person, motivation compass and genius."

Born successful Brixton, Jazz besides fronted a set called Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys and released euphony with the radical Soul Food Cafe.

DJ David Pearce said Faithless became an "iconic unit successful UK creation euphony from the mid 90s and touched truthful galore lives". He said Jazz was "dance music's poet" and a "warm, cool, affable soul".

Faithless formed successful 1995 and were pioneers of stadium creation music. They headlined immoderate of the world's biggest festivals including Glastonbury, taking to the Pyramid signifier successful 2002. They were nominated for Best UK Dance Act astatine the Brit Awards successful 1999 and 2002,

The set divided successful 2011 but returned to merchandise a caller workplace medium astir a decennary later, during the Covid pandemic. However, they weren't joined by Jazz, who had formed different band, Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys.

The guitar set marked a caller dependable for Jazz, who began penning the worldly successful 2013, during Faithless's hiatus.

On their website, the set described their dependable arsenic incorporating "melodic funk and blues mixed with reggae beats, dub baselines [and] Jamaican melodies".

Jazz was a immense instrumentality of Crystal Palace FC, becoming an subordinate manager of the shot nine successful 2012.

The premier league nine said the "legendary musician" was a regular astatine Selhurst Park, and the squad would locomotion retired to Faithless connected Boxing Day successful tribute to the precocious singer.