Cedar Walton

Born: January 17, 1934

For over 25 years, pianist Cedar Walton has enjoyed an uptempo career, which never seems to slow down. Maintaining a non-stop itinerary, Walton has accompanied a litany of Jazz greats while also fronting his own successful groups. Born January 17, 1934 in Dallas, Texas, Walton set his sights on a 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 locally 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 years tenure with Blakey, Walton stepped forward a composer, contributing originals like Mosaic and The Promised Land to the group's recordings for the Blue Note and Riverside labels.

Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from the Blue Morocco

By Kenny Dorham

Label: Resonance Records
Released: 2025
Track listing: Blue Bossa; Confirmation; Memories of You; My One and Only Love; Bags�� Groove; Blue Friday; The Theme.

Hayley Kavanagh Quartet At Scott's Jazz Club

by Ian Patterson
September 2, 2025

Hayley Kavanagh Quartet Scott's Jazz Club Belfast, N. Ireland August 29, 2025 “Welcome to the Upper East Side." Variations on this phrase--delivered by Scott's Jazz Club co-founder Cormac O'Kane--have greeted visitors to Belfast's award-winning jazz venue every Friday night since 2020. Hard to believe that half a decade has whizzed ...

Cory Weeds: Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon

by Jack Bowers
August 14, 2025

A proper response to the statement Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon could well be “it's about time!" Although widely separated geographically--Weeds is Canadian, Weldon a native New Yorker--these masters of the tenor saxophone have been brightening stages and delighting audiences at venues in the U.S. and around the world for decades. And even though they have ...

Louis Stewart: I Thought About You

by Ian Patterson
July 24, 2025

For jazz guitar fans, and for aficionados of Irish guitarist Louis Stewart in particular, the 2022 relaunch of '70s label Livia Records has been manna from heaven. This is the born-again label's fifth reissue of the great Dublin six-stringer's out-of-print recordings since the series launched with Stewart's other 1977 album Out on His Own (Livia Records, ...

Lakecia Benjamin, Janet Planet, Susan Krebs, Alex Trembley, Katie Thiroux, Sinne Eeg & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
July 14, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Janet Planet, Susan Krebs, Alex Trembley, Katie Thiroux, and Sinne Eeg, plus a single from Lakecia Benjamin, with birthday shoutouts to Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Brandee Younger, Madeline Eastman, Susan Krebs, Caroline Davis, Nancy Erickson Lamont, Rhoda Scott, Natalie Cressman, Monika Ryan and Lezlie Harrison, among others. Happy listening and ...

Sly Stone, Tessa Souter, Cedar Walton

by David Brown
June 26, 2025

This week we remember progressive soul and funk pioneer Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone with two interpretations of his classic tunes: “Family Affair" from Bobby Hutcherson and “If You Want Me to Stay" from David Murray. Songs featuring some wonderful “oohs" and “aahs" in the background will be follow from Nina Simone and ...

Mina Choi: Stories

by Jack Bowers
June 2, 2025

Who could have guessed that the next wave of world-class big-band composers and arrangers would wash ashore in the U.S. after starting its journey in faraway Asia? In 2024 alone, many composers with roots in the Far East have nourished their credentials with impressive and well- received big-band recordings. Those whose names spring to mind include ...

James Moody: 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005

by Jack Bowers
May 22, 2025

When it comes to having fun, few events can compete with a birthday party. Fun is clearly at the summit of the agenda on 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, recorded at the famed New York City nightspot on March 26, 2005, to celebrate saxophonist James Moody's eightieth birthday, and released on the same ...

James Moody: 80 Years Young - Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005

by Todd Coolman
May 21, 2025

It's an absolute thrill to share the memories of an unforgettable night--James Moody's 80th birthday celebration at the legendary Blue Note in New York City in 2005. This was the grand finale of a weeklong celebration that had already featured amazing performances from jazz giants like Jimmy Heath, Ray Barretto, Mike Longo, and George Wein. This ...