Prominent jazzman, People's Artist of Russia Georgy Garanyan died in Krasnodar at the age of 76 on Monday morning, Nelli Zakirova, the widow of the celebrated jazzman, told Itar-Tass.

Maestro Vladimir Spivakov, Artistic director of the world famous Virtuozy Moskvy orchestra, said it was a great honour to him that Georgy Garanyan had recently worked a great deal with his orchestra and enjoyed it, Spivakov told Itar-Tass by telephone Monday. "There was a spirit of mutual deep respect between Maestro Garanyan and the orchestra's musicians, and we were deeply attached to him as a person," Vladimir Spivakov said.

"Georgy Garanyan's death is great loss both to the world of music and people because he was a handsome, clever, good-natured person who attracted people," Spivakov said. "I am confident that Georgy Garanyan will always live in memories of all those who knew him and listened to his music as a person of great heart and tremendous musical talent," Spivakov said.