In Vail, the name Tony G is synonymous with jazz music, but for the man himself, who died peacefully on Saturday, a look back at the Vail years might conjure stronger associations with his other passions, like family, fishing and making Italian sausages. After all, Tony Gulizia had been a jazz fixture in Omaha for more than 30 years before arriving in Vail.

In hearing about Tony G’s death, jazz guitarist Dave Stryker recently took time away from his busy tour schedule to comment on the impressiveness of that career, which lasted another three decades in Vail after beginning 34 years earlier in Omaha.