Cedar Walton_composer

Two killers from Cedar Walton – back to back on a single CD!

For sometime Criss Cross Jazz producer Gerry Teekens had wanted to tape pianist Cedar Walton in a trio context, and the only problem with that was Cedar's being fairly heavily booked for gigs over Christmas, '92. So it had to be an afternoon session the day after Christmas (Boxing Day, as it is called in Britain). Hence our title - Manhattan Afternoon. And a very swinging post meridian it turned out to be as the inimitable Cedar and his two cooking companions of longstanding (David Williams - bass, Billy Higgins - drums) sailed through a terrific programme of ballads, blues and jazz originals.

Mobius is an album by pianist Cedar Walton recorded in 1975 and released on the RCA label in 1975.

Ian Shaw & Cedar Walton - In a New York Minute (1999) {Milestone MCD-9297-2}
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© 1999 Milestone / Fantasy | MCD-9297-2
Jazz / Post Bebop / Vocal Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Piano

Welsh jazz vocalist Ian Shaw makes an impressive American label debut here, with a freethinking repertoire, no drummer, and just the expert mainstream piano of co-headliner Cedar Walton, Iain Ballamy on saxophones and David Williams on bass behind him. While Shaw doesn't have a particularly striking or memorable timbre, he more than makes up for that in flexibility, range, and a wide spectrum of vocal influences from the bebop era and R&B through the unclassifiable Al Jarreau.

Cedar Walton Quartet - Bluesville Time (1985) {Criss Cross Jazz, Criss 1017CD rel 1989}
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© 1985, 1989 Criss Cross Jazz | CRISS 1017 CD
Jazz / Hard Bop / Piano

A great group – with a young Dale Barlow on tenor, David Williams on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. Features a hip take on "Naima", plus "Bluesville", "Ojos De Rojos", and "Rubberman". Cedar Walton is really good as usual but a possibly unsung saxophone player sets the standard for this recording. Dale Barlow gives a virtuoso performance which ranks with any of the modern sax men to inlude Lovano or Watts. There was some malaise in jazz in the 80s but this album was a firecracker in its day. I recommend it highly.

Cedar Walton - Latin Tinge (2002) {HighNote HCD 7099}
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© 2002 HighNote Records | HCD 7099
Jazz / Hard Bop / Latin Jazz / Piano

The great Jelly Roll Morton said that if you don't have a Latin tinge in your music "you won't have the right seasoning for jazz." Nobody understands that better than the Dallas-born pianist-composer Cedar Walton. As an member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the '60s, and as an outstanding composer in his own right, Walton has utilized Latin music throughout his distinguished career. On this intimate date with percussionist Ray Mantilla and bassist Chucho Martinez, Walton interprets a number of jazz and Latin standards using just piano, bass, and percussion.

Cedar Walton - Soul Cycle (1969) {Prestige OJCCD-847-2 rel 1995}
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© 1969, 1995 Prestige / Fantasy / OJC | OJCCD-847-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Piano

"Soul Cycle," recorded in 1969, is pianist/composer Cedar Walton's attempt to "groove those who are already tuned in, while picking up some entirely new ears along the way." In his candid liner notes, he describes a major concern for jazz musicians at that time–how to be commercial without selling out. The electric instruments featured here are a nod to the times, but sound innocent compared to Miles Davis' contemporaneous "Bitch's Brew."