Blair Tindall
(February 2, 1960-April 12, 2023)
Blair Tindall, born on February 2, 1960, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, gained recognition as a writer, with notable works including Malcolm X (1992), Mozart in the Jungle (2014), and Crooklyn (1994).
David Howells/Corbis, via Getty Images
Tindall, who played the oboe for prestigious ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, transformed her encounters in the classical music sphere into a bestselling and highly acclaimed memoir. She penned Mozart in the Jungle while on a fellowship at The MacDowell Colony. In her capacity as an oboist, Tindall thrived in a musical career that spanned from the classical grandeur of Carnegie Hall to the vibrant late-night atmosphere of New York’s renowned Blue Note Jazz Club.
Photo by Christian Steiner
Tindall can be heard on many film, radio and television soundtracks, including the theme music for National Public Radio’s Performance Today as well as soundtracks for the films, “Crooklyn,” “Mad Dog and Glory,” “A Little Sex,” “Twilight” and “Snake Eyes.” She was singled out by CD Review magazine for her solo performance on the motion picture soundtrack of Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X.” A featured artist on jazz trumpeter John Faddis’ album, “Remembrances,” (nominated for a 1999 Grammy Award), Ms. Tindall has also appeared with Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts and his quintet.
