City paramedics responded to a call, arriving at the Marco Polo condominium on Kapi'olani Boulevard at 8:45 a.m. A 58-year-old male was pronounced dead at 8:55 a.m., according to Bryan Cheplic, Emergency Medical Services spokesman.

Cheplic did not identify the deceased, believed to be Weinstein.

Weinstein's associate, Dana Ritchie Fujikake, who co-produces the jazz festival, confirmed Tuesday that Weinstein had died, saying in a statement, "His passion will love long and brightly through the creation he was most proud of, the festival."

Weinstein united local musicians with the global jazz community for the past 13 years with his jazz festival.

"Abe gave us, the jazz artists, a lot of opportunities to get involved in the music scene here," said Jimmy Borges, one of the town's great jazz voices, who has performed in the jazz fest. "Before the Hawai'i International Jazz Festival, Betty (Betty Loo Taylor, his longtime pianist in jazz gigs here) and I had to go out of state. Abe created the opportunity for locals to have a home base for their artistry."

Since 1993, Weinstein organized, presented and performed in the jazz festival, filling a void for musicians and fans alike.

"He tried to do the impossible — to pull jazz musicians together," said Michael Lagarticha, Musicians Union president of Local 677, who had known Weinstein for 30 years. "No two jazz musicians have the same view of jazz. But Abe devoted his life to the jazz festival."

Weinstein had diabetes and underwent heart surgery, said several musicians who knew him. The cause of death was not immediately known.