Jazz Police - Hard Bop Master Cedar Walton With Trio and Quartet at the Village Vanguard

“One of the elder statesmen of the hard-bop genre and one of the true living legends of jazz piano.” – Joel Roberts, All About Jazz

One of the famed alumni of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Cedar Walton is one of the most acclaimed—and busy—pianists of his generation. For the next two weeks, Walton holds forth at the Village Vanguard, with his trio (December 18-23) and then adds saxman Vincent Herring for another six nights with his quartet (December 25-30). That’s a double dose of Walton’s Magic—the perfect jazz gift for the holidays.

Taught piano by his mother in his native Dallas, Cedar Walton studied music at the University of Denver before moving to New York in 1955. The Army became his first significant gig, however, and his early bandmates while stationed in Germany included Leo Wright, Don Ellis, and Eddie Harris. After returning to New York, he recorded and/or played with Keny Dorham, J.J. Johnson, the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet and John Coltrane (Giant Steps)in the late 50s and early 60s. He became a Jazz Messenger in 1961, joining Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard for three years. In the mid to late 60s, we worked as Abbey Lincoln’s accompanist, recorded with Art Farmer, Hank Mobley, Pat Martino, Charles McPherson and Lee Morgan, and served as “house pianist” for Prestige Records. He also co-lead a bop quartet with saxmen Clifford Jordan, George Coleman, or Ralph Moore; bassists Sam Jones or David Williams, and drummer Billy Higgins, an ensemble that became Eastern Rebellion in 1975. Also in the mid 70s, Walton rejoined Blakey for a tour of Japan and again recorded with Art Farmer.

During the mid 70s, Walton also headed Mobius and Soundscapes, experimenting with electric piano and funk grooves. Over the past two decades, he has continued touring and recording with his trio, appearing on the Muse, Evidence, Steeplechase, Verve, and now High Note labels. His most recent release, One Flight Down (High Note, 2007), highlights not only his great hard bop chops but also Walton’s underappreciated legacy as a composer of tunes such as “One Flight Down” and “The Rubber Man.”

Joining Walton at the Vanguard will be long-time bassist David Williams and virtuoso drummer Lewis Nash during the first week, with sometime-sideman, all-time sax great Vincent Herring joining in for the second week.

Versatile bassist David Williams has played and recorded with a diverse Whos’ Who in American jazz—Slide Hampton, Warne Marsh, Kenny Barron, Art Pepper, David Hazeltine and often with Cedar Walton. Drummer Lewis Nash, a native of Phoenix, began his career playing around town with visiting artists such as Sonny Stitt, Art Pepper, Red Garland, Lee Konitz, Barney Kessell and Slide Hampton. Moving to New York in 1981, he worked with Betty Carter for four years before joining Ron Carter’s bands, and later played with Branford Marsalis, J.J. Johnson and the Don Pullen/George Adams Quartet. After a decade-long association with Tommy Flanagan, Nash has led his own ensembles and appears frequently at Dizzy’s at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Versatile and graceful behind the trapset, Nash is also a dedicated jazz educator. Noted Ben Ratliffe in the New York Times, “In Lewis Nash's drum patterns there was such acute attention to timbre and melodic grace that at times he sounded more as if he were playing composed lines on a vibraphone..."

Vincent Herring

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. Regarding his current place in Louis Hayes’ Cannonball Adderley 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.”

Now 73, Cedar Walton is as prolific and engaging as ever. For two weeks, hard bop with sheer elegance will rise from the stage at the Village Vanguard.

The Village Vanguard is located at 178 Seventh Av in Greenwich Village; www.villagevanguard.com. Cedar Walton Trio performs December 18-23; Quartet on December 25-30. Shows at 9 and 11 pm nightly with a third set at 12:30 am on Saturday night.