Cedar Walton -

Cedar Walton (Jan. 17, 1934 — Aug. 19, 2013) was an American jazz pianist from Dallas. He played with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from 1961 to 1964 and recorded extensively as a sideman for Blue Note, Prestige, Atlantic, and other jazz labels. Walton launched his recording career as a leader with Cedar! in 1967 and later led Eastern Rebellion, with a catalog that includes the compositions “Bolivia,” “Mosaic,” “Ugetsu,” and “Firm Roots.”

Background

Cedar Anthony Walton Jr. was born on Jan. 17, 1934, in Dallas, Texas. His mother, Ruth Walton, worked as a schoolteacher and pianist and gave him his first piano lessons. Walton briefly attended Dillard University in New Orleans before enrolling at the University of Denver in 1951, where he first studied composition and then music education. He led a trio at Lil’s, an after-hours Denver club where visiting musicians such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie sat in after local engagements.

Walton left college for New York in 1955 and worked odd jobs that included an usher post with Jazz at the Philharmonic. The U.S. Army drafted him in 1956 and sent him to Germany, where he played in a Seventh Army jazz ensemble with trumpeter Don Ellis and saxophonists Leo Wright and Eddie Harris. He returned to New York in 1958 and made his recording debut on the Kenny Dorham album This Is the Moment! for Riverside Records. Walton also worked with trombonist J.J. Johnson and saxophonist Gigi Gryce before recording early takes of the John Coltrane composition “Giant Steps” for Atlantic Records. He joined the Jazztet of trumpeter Art Farmer and tenor saxophonist Benny Golson in 1960 and recorded Big City Sounds for Argo Records.

Art Blakey brought Walton into the Jazz Messengers in 1961, where the pianist worked alongside trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Walton wrote and arranged material for the group, including “Mosaic” and “Ugetsu,” and remained through 1964. He followed the Messengers with New York trio work and a 1965–66 accompanist post with singer Abbey Lincoln.

Walton recorded for Blue Note with trumpeter Lee Morgan and tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, including the January 1966 Mode for Joe date at Van Gelder Studio. He also played Prestige sessions with tenor saxophonists Teddy Edwards and Houston Person before his first leader date for the label. Walton entered that session on July 10, 1967, with trumpeter Kenny Dorham, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Billy Higgins, the quintet that recorded material for Cedar!.

Discography:

Cedar! (1967)
Spectrum (1968)
The Electric Boogaloo Song (1969)
Soul Cycle (1970)
Breakthrough! (1972 • The Cedar Walton / Hank Mobley Quintet)
Mobius (1975)
Beyond Mobius (1976)
Eastern Rebellion (1976 • Eastern Rebellion)
Eastern Rebellion 2 (1977 • Eastern Rebellion)
Animation (1978)
Soundscapes (1980)
The Maestro (1981)
Among Friends (1982)
Heart and Soul (1982 • Ron Carter / Cedar Walton Duo)
Eastern Rebellion 3 (1982 • Eastern Rebellion)
Eastern Rebellion 4 (1983 • Eastern Rebellion)
It Don’t Mean a Thing If You Can’t Tap a Foot to It (1984 • Milt Jackson / Ray Brown / Cedar Walton / Mickey Roker Quartet)
Bluesville Time (1985)
Easy Living (1985 • Frank Morgan With the Cedar Walton Trio)
Blues for Myself (1986)
Cedar Walton (1986)
Cedar Walton / Ron Carter / Jack DeJohnette (1986 • Cedar Walton, Ron Carter & Jack DeJohnette)