Greg Lowe is being remembered as a rare breed of musician.

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra VP of Artistic Operations & Community Engagement Jean-Francois Phaneuf says he's hired Lowe as a performer and as a composer for the New Music Festival, and he played alongside him when Phaneuf was a part of the WSO's trumpet section.

He says Lowe was extremely versatile, and hiring him was probably the easiest decision he ever had. He calls Lowe a Rennaisance man of music.

"He was part of this very talented -- like I say, (he was) a special individual. He brought something that honestly I don't know many other people that have this kind of -- how he could do that crossover, and understood all the -- not only understood them, but could perform all these different types of music to such an extent, such a high quality."

Lowe died over the weekend at 59; he had been fighting cancer.

He had released seven CDs and performed with many groups, including the WSO, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and bands like The Chess Club and SwingSoniq.

Phaneuf says Lowe's passing is a big loss for the Winnipeg community.