Eric Sundeen will lead a percussion ensemble on Ney Rosauro's "Concerto for Marimba" when the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra ...

The legendary American vibraphonist, composer and pioneer of jazz-funk died Tuesday, his family said. He was 84.

Sundeen, on marimba, will lead a percussion ensemble on the Rosauro piece, including his wife, Sarah, on xylophone, and other musicians on vibes, a second marimba, tympani, chimes and a drum set.

Ayres took the glassy, elongated tones of the vibraphone – the percussion instrument resembling a marimba or xylophone – and moved away from the uptempo jazz sound pioneered by Lionel Hampton.