Bob Belden, a global-minded saxophonist and arranger who brought a jazz lens to music ranging from chart-topping pop to classical Indian, has died. He was 58. Blue Note Records, where he recorded his best known works, confirmed his death. He died Wednesday in New York, where he lived, after suffering a heart attack. Belden in February became the first American musician to perform publicly in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, playing with the government’s blessing amid an easing of longstanding tensions between Tehran and Washington. To a warm welcome from the Iranian audience, Belden performed on his soprano saxophone works from masters including Miles Davis. The concert was backed by Search for Common Ground, a US peace group. Belden spoke glowingly about his interaction with Iranians and said he went in part because he found a lack of
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