Jazz composer George Russell, a MacArthur fellow whose theories influenced the modal music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, has died.

His publicist says Russell, who taught at the New England Conservatory, died Monday atage 86 of complications from Alzheimer's.

Russell was born in Cincinnati in 1923 and attended Wilberforce University. He played drums in Benny Parker's band and later wrote Cubano Be/Cubano Bop for Dizzy Gillespie's orchestra. It premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1947 and was the first fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz.

Theoretical contribution

Russell developed the Lydian concept in 1953. It is credited as the first theoretical contributionfrom jazz.

Russell is survived by his wife, his son and three grandchildren. A release says a memorial service will be planned.