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. After a week at the Village Vanguard with his trio, Cedar Walton will return for a seconf week with his quartet from Tuesday, December 23rd through Sunday, December 28th. Walton's quartet features Vincent Herring on alto sax, David Williams on bass, and for this week Willie Jones III will replace Lewis Nash on drums.
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.
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 is located at 178 7th Avenue South, on 7th Avenue just below West 11th Street in Greenwich Village. Call (212) 255-4037or visit villagevanguard.com for more information.
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