Listening Room – “Diamondhead”

The great tenor player David “Fathead” Newman released “Diamondhead” in January of 2008, almost exactly one year prior to his passing at the hands of pancreatic cancer.  Joined by a couple of other legendary players, Cedar Walton & Curtis Fuller, Newman put together a great set of music mixing a few prime originals with some standards and a couple of unexpected numbers (a surprisingly soulful take on Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind being one example).  The music on “Diamondhead” (and “The Blessing” – recorded just a few weeks before his death) leave a lasting reminder that Newman was still playing with the fire that always made him a force to be reckoned with over his long and distinguished musical career.

Diamondhead
Buy at Amazon

Released 2008  :  HighNote Records  :  Catalog # 757179

Players:
David “Fathead” Newman – Tenor Sax, Flute
Curtis Fuller – Trombone
Cedar Walton – Piano
Peter Washington – Bass
Yoron Israel – Drums

David “Fathead” Newman – Diamondhead from “Diamondhead”

David “Fathead” Newman – Mama Lou from “Diamondhead”

“2010 NEA Jazz Masters Recipients Announced”

Bobby Hutcherson

The National Endowment For The Arts has announced the 2010 Jazz Masters Fellowship recipients.  They include Bobby Hutcherson (pictured above), Cedar Walton and Yusef Lateef.

From their website:

“The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships are the highest honors that our government bestows upon jazz musicians. These fellowships are given in recognition that this magnificent art form, so profoundly based in American culture, is one of America’s greatest gifts to the world.”

All the recipients can be seen here.

Listening Room – “Seasoned Wood”

Jazz legend Cedar Walton recorded “Seasoned Wood” in 2008 at the ripe young age of 74.  Of all the outstanding albums Walton has released as a leader, “Seasoned Wood” stands as one of his great achievements.  Joined by longtime bandmates Vincent Herring on saxophones and Al Foster on drums, Walton takes charge on a nice mix of originals and standards.  The two Walton originals Clockwise and John’s Blues are standouts from this great recording.

Seasoned Wood
Buy at Amazon

Released 2008  :  High Note Records  :  Catalog # CD 7185

Players:
Cedar Walton – Piano
Vincent Harrington – Saxophones
Jeremy Pelt – Trumpet
Peter Washington – Bass
Al Foster – Drums

Cedar Walton – Clockwise from “Seasoned Wood”

Cedar Walton – John’s Blues from “Seasoned Wood”

Listening Room – “Cedar!”

Cedar Walton – “My Ship”

Cedar Walton – “Come Sunday”

From “Cedar” : 1967 : Prestige PR 7519

One of the all-time great hard bop piano players, Cedar Walton (who is still making great music today) made his debut as a leader on this 1967 album for Prestige Records.  The album is credited to the Cedar Walton Trio, Quartet & Quintet.  My Ship features Kenny Dorham on Sax, while Junior Cook replaces Dorham on Come Sunday.

Players:
Cedar Walton – Piano
Kenny Dorham – Tenor Sax
Junior Cook – Tenor Sax
Leroy Vinnegar – Bass
Billy Higgins – Drums

Listening Room – “Caravan”

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – “Caravan”

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – “Skylark”

From “Caravan” : 1962 : Riverside Records

This was Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers first of several great albums recorded for Riverside starting in 1962. The players Blakey assembled are some of the best hard bop players of that or any era. Standout tracks include their take on Ellington’s classic Caravan and the pop standard Skylark.

Players:
Art Blakey – Drums
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Curtis Fuller – Trombone
Wayne Shorter – Tenor Sax
Cedar Walton – Piano
Reggie Workman – Bass