Cedar Walton

小簡介
杰出的小樂隊伴奏鋼琴手Cedar Walton是一位典型的硬式咆勃爵士情狀闡釋好手，從未在外塑造出大師級地位的Walton，骨子里卻是一位條件具備的優(yōu)秀演奏家,和很多優(yōu)秀的爵士演奏家一起合作過．
這張日本版的碟很難得，錄音非常好，值得收藏．
One of the most valued of all hard bop accompanists, Cedar Walton is a versatile pianist whose funky touch and cogent melodic sense has graced the recordings of many of jazzs greatest players. He is also one of the musics more underrated composers; although he has always been 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 Blakeys book during the pianists early-60s stint with the Jazz Messengers.
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 1958-61, Walton played with Kenny Dorham, J.J. Johnson, and Art Farmers Jazztet, among others. Walton joined Blakey in 1961, with whom he remained until 64. This was perhaps Blakeys most influential group, with Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter. Walton served time as Abbey Lincolns accompanist from 1965-66 and made records with Lee Morgan from 1966-68; from 1967-69, 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. Waltons 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. In the 80s and 90s, Walton continued to lead his own fine bands, recording on the Muse, Evidence, and Steeplechase labels. 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 tenorists daunting Giant Steps — unlike the unfortunate Tommy Flanagan a month later, Walton wasnt required to solo, though he does comp magnificently.