IT IS WITH DEEP SADNESS THAT SAMANTHA (ROD'S DAUGHTER) AND VAL (ROD'S WIFE) HAVE TO ANNOUCE HIS SUDDEN DEATH ON TUESDAY 4TH JANUARY 2011. MYSELF, VAL AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED ROD'S FUNERAL ON MONDAY 24TH JANUARY, WE WERE OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS AND CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, IT WAS FANTASTIC TRIBUTE AND SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH HE WAS LOVED BY ALL. ROD WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS WELL AS THE JAZZ COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO VISIT THE TRIBUTE PAGE AND POST ANY MESSAGES. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR KIND LETTERS, CARDS, E-MAILS AND MESSAGES THEY ARE PROVIDING MUCH COMFORT AT SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME.