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“I don’t believe that a lot of the things I hear on the air today are going to be played for as long a time as Coleman Hawkins records or Brahms concertos.” - Oscar Peterson

Friday, 09 January 2009

Cedar Walton Trio 12/12-17 and Quartet 12/19-24 at the Village Vanguard

Written by Ronaldo Oregano

Monday, 11 December 2006

Cedar Walton

For over 25 years, pianist Cedar Walton has been acclaimed by fellow jazz musicians and audience around the world. Walton has performed with a number of jazz greats while also leading his own successful groups. This week Walton begins a two week stand at the Village Vanguard. His trio featuring David Williams on bass and Lewis Nash on drums will perform from December 12th through the 17th. Then for the week of December 19th through the 24th they will be joined by Vincent Herring on saxophone to make it a quartet.

Born January 17, 1934 in Dallas, Texas, Cedar Walton began his career in music at an early age. An after-hours gig at the Denver Club introduced him to notable musicians like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane, who would sit in with Walton's group when they passed through town. From there, Walton ventured to New York and began to work with Lou Donaldson, Gigi Gryce, Sonny Rollins and Kenny Dorham before landing his first touring job with J.J. Johnson. Soon after, the pianist made his recording debut backing Kenny Dorham on the Riverside album Kenny Dorham Sings. He also made two records with J.J. Johnson' s group on Columbia Records before joining the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet, a group he toured and recorded with for two years. Walton's next major musical association was with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. During his three-year tenure with Blakey, Walton became known as a composer, contributing originals like "Mosaic" and "The Promised Land" to the Jazz Messaangers' book.

Walton left the Jazz Messengers to lead rhythm sections and trios in New York. His debut recording as a leader came in 1966 with the release of Cedar on Prestige Records. In 1981, he formed a trio with Ron Carter and Billy Higgins which clicked right from the start. Around the same time, Walton became part of the Timeless All-Stars, a sextet also featuring Harold Land, Bobby Hutcherson, Curtis Fuller, Buster Williams and Billy Higgins. Walton also performed with Milt Jackson, Frank Morgan, Dexter Gordon and vocalists Ernestine Anderson and Freddy Cole, and held the piano chair of The Trumpet Summit Band.

Cedar Walton is one of the most influential jazz musicians active today. His original compositions like "Bolivia", "Clockwise" and "Firm Roots" are frequently recorded by other musicians, and have become part of the standard Jazz repertoire. Cedar Walton has emerged as a true master of jazz.

Lewis Nash

Lewis Nash, born in Phoenix, Arizona, developed an early interest in music. By age 18, he was performing with local jazz groups. By the time he was 21, Nash had become the "first call" jazz drummer in Phoenix, working with Sonny Stitt, Art Pepper, Red Garland, Lee Konitz, Barney Kessell and Slide Hampton during their engagements in the city.

In 1981, Nash moved to New York City and joined the trio of the great jazz vocalist Betty Carter. For nearly four years, he toured internationally with Ms. Carter. He is featured on three of her recordings, including the Grammy winning Look What I Got. Ron Carter hired Nash in 1984. As a member Carter´s nonet, quintet and quartet, Nash toured extensively and is featured on several of the bassist´s recordings. In the fall of 1986, saxophonist Branford Marsalis asked Lewis to join his quartet. That active association spanned two years and several continents, and is documented on Marsalis´ Grammy nominated recording Random Abstract, as well as two videos: Royal Garden Blues (directed by Spike Lee) and Branford Marsalis - Steep.

Vincent Herring played sax at West Point in the U.S. Military Band. Dubbed a “Young Lion” in the early 80s, he toured with the Lionel Hampton Band before his big break with Nat Adderley's band, displaying a style in the vein of Nat’s brother, Cannonball. Notes International Jazz Productions, “Vincent has developed into a virtuoso with a voice that is uniquely intense and vigorous with the energy and direction.” Regarding his place in the Cannonball chair with the Legacy Band, Jazz Times (November 2002) noted that he has “formidable technique and the appropriately aggressive attitude to put it over. Like Adderley, Herring tells a story when he plays, quotes other songs in his solos…and always plays hip turnarounds at the ends of his phrases.” (For more information on Vincent Herring, see www.vincentherring.com)

The Village Vanguard presents the Cedar Walton trio featuring David Williams on bass and Lewis Nash on drums from December 12th through the 17th. Then for the week of December 19th through the 24th they will be joined by Vincent Herring on saxophone to make it a quartet. The Vanguard is located at 178 7th Avenue South. That's on 7th Avenue just below West 11th Street in Greenwich Village. Nearest subway: 1, 2 or 3 (local or express) at the 14th Street stop. Doors open at 8:00pm. Sets begin at 9:00pm and 11:00pm nightly. From time to time, there is an additional 12:30am set on Saturday. It's best to call the club for confirmation of a third set.(212) 255-4037