Cedar Walton
One of the most valued of all hard bop accompanists, Cedar Walton was a versatile pianist whose funky touch and cogent melodic sense graced the recordings of many of jazz's greatest players. He was also one of the music's more underrated composers; although he was always a first-rate interpreter of standards, Walton wrote a number of excellent tunes ("Mosaic," "Ugetsu," and "Bolivia," to name a few) that found their way into Art Blakey's book during the pianist's early-'60s stint with the Jazz Messengers. In addition to his many quantifiable accomplishments, Walton is less well known as the first pianist to record, in April 1959 with John Coltrane, the tenorist's daunting "Giant Steps" -- unlike the unfortunate Tommy Flanagan a month later, Walton wasn't required to solo, though he does comp magnificently.
Walton was first taught piano by his mother. After attending the University of Denver, he moved to New York in 1955, ostensibly to play music. Instead, he was drafted into the Army. Stationed in Germany, Walton played with American musicians Leo Wright, Don Ellis, and Eddie Harris. After his discharge, Walton moved back to New York, where he began his career in earnest. From 1958-1961, Walton played with Kenny Dorham, J.J. Johnson, and Art Farmer's Jazztet, among others. Walton joined Blakey in 1961, with whom he remained until 1964. This was perhaps Blakey's most influential group, with Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter. Walton served time as Abbey Lincoln's accompanist from 1965-1966 and made records with Lee Morgan from 1966-1968; from 1967-1969, Walton served as a sideman on many Prestige albums as well. Walton played in a band with Hank Mobley in the early '70s and returned to Blakey for a 1973 tour of Japan.
Walton's own band of the period was called Eastern Rebellion, and was comprised of a rotating cast that included saxophonists Clifford Jordan, George Coleman, and Bob Berg; bassist Sam Jones; and drummer Billy Higgins. From the '80s onward, Walton continued to lead his own fine bands, releasing numerous albums including The Maestro in 1980, Cedar Walton Plays in 1986, and Composer in 1996, followed a year later by Roots, featuring trumpeter Terence Blanchard and saxophonist Joshua Redman. In 2001 Walton released The Promise Land, his debut for Highnote, which was followed by Latin Tinge in 2002, Underground Memoirs in 2005, and Seasoned Wood with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt in 2008. Walton was joined by saxophonist Vincent Herring on Voices Deep Within in 2009. Herring was also featured along with trombonist Steve Turre on The Bouncer in 2011. Cedar Walton died at his home in Brooklyn on August 19, 2013; he was 79 years old.
© Chris Kelsey /TiVo
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One Flight Down
Bebop - Released by HighNote Records on 1 Aug 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Is the Thing (Remastered 2024)
Steve Grossman, Cedar Walton, David Williams, Billy Higgins
Jazz - Released by Red records on 5 Jan 2024
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Voices Deep Within
Bebop - Released by HighNote Records on 22 Sep 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The V.I.P. Trio. Standards
Cedar Walton, Pat Senatore, Billy Higgins
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 8 Dec 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Promise Land
Bebop - Released by HighNote Records on 1 Aug 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
More Blues for Myself (Remastered 1986)
Jazz - Released by Red records on 12 May 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Trio 2 (Remastered 2023)
Jazz - Released by Red records on 3 Nov 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Seasoned Wood
Bebop - Released by HighNote Records on 15 Jul 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Reliving the Moment (Recorded Live at the Keystone Korner)
Bebop - Released by HighNote Records on 29 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Underground Memoirs
Bebop - Released by HighNote Records on 15 May 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blues For Myself (Piano Solo)
Jazz - Released by Red records on 1 Jan 1981
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Cedar Walton Plays Featuring Ron Carter and Billy Higgins (Cedar Walton)
Jazz - Released by Delos on 1 Jan 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Standards Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 10 Apr 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Naima (Live At Boomer's / New York, NY / 1973)
Jazz - Released by Savoy on 17 Mar 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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