STEVEN POUCHIE

POUCHIE--Steven Vibert,

passed away on Friday, August 28, 2015. Visitation will be held at Sisto Funeral Home, 3489 East Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10465 on Thursday, September 3, 2105 from 2-9pm (718-892-2102). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 4, 2015 at Saint Frances de Chantal Church at 10am. Interment will follow at Saint Raymond's Cemetery. A Latin Jazz musician, arranger, band leader, producer and educator, Steve played the vibraphone using two mallets. His style was compared to Cal Tjader and Tito Puente. One reviewer said Steve "laid the foundation for the new style of vibes playing and performance" and another called him "an extremely intellectual rhythmist" and likened his sound design to "water colour-like imagery." Steve and his wife, Naomi, also created and hosted the popular cable show Latin Jazz Alive and Kickin'. Born to Puerto Rican parents and raised in New York City, Steve graduated from Stuyvesant High School and New York's Bard College. In addition to live performances, Steve collaborated with a formidable array of artists both in live performances and on three critically-acclaimed albums: "North by Northeast," "El Puente" and "Vibe Mania." "North by Northeast" was recently nominated for a Grammy. For his work as a music and technology educator Steve was awarded the distinguished New York Liberty Medal. In presenting Steve with the medal the honorable Michael Bloomberg said, "These men and women have made important contributions to their community through time, work, talent and wisdom." Steve is survived by beloved family, including wife, Naomi; mother Dolores; siblings Carolyn (Michael) Graham and Michael (Lisa) Pouchie; and by many adored nieces and nephews.