The jazz world is mourning the death of Swedish pianist Esbjorn Svensson, who died in a scuba-diving accident on Saturday. He was 44.
Reuters reports that Svensson's manager Burkhard Hopper said he died on Saturday in the Stockholm archipelago.
Paying tribute, Hopper said: "Musically, he was the light that lit the world because in what he did he was pushing boundaries. Himself, he said he was following the music inside himself. His music inspired people in all corners of the world."
Svensson's group, the Esbjorn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.), had received global acclaim and won the European Jazz Award and the BBC Jazz Award.
The group's eleventh album, 'Lencocyte', was due for release in September.
Hopper continued: "Esbjorn was one of the finest people I ever met in my life. He was humble, modest and appreciative of the work of those working with him. He was extremely respectful of other people."
Svensson leaves a wife and two children.
