NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT...

MUSIC:

Holy Land
CD: The Trio, Vol. 1
Originally released 1985, 2009 Red Records

IN 1951, NEA JAZZ MASTER CEDAR WALTON ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER. BUT, LIKE MANY MUSICIANS, HE RECEIVED MOST OF HIS "EDUCATION" LATE AT NIGHT. HE PLAYED PIANO IN A JAZZ CLUB THAT WAS A HOTSPOT FOR ALL THE TOURING MUSICIANS WHO CAME THROUGH TOWN.

Cedar Walton: The gig I had really affected my ability to attend class cause it was so late. It was an after-hours gig. Any band that was on tour coming east to west or vice versa would stop through there. And I met practically all of them because where I played they all would rise to come and have their entertainment after they got through playing. Charlie Parker even sat in with us. Place named Lil's. Started pretty late at night and went til sunrise. (laughs) I tried to schedule my classes in the afternoon, but one or two times I couldn't. So I would miss a lot of em. I would try to fake my way through. But it was obvious I hadn't looked at the books. I was busy out there learning some of what I know now. Off campus!

MUSIC: up and fades

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH PIANIST CEDAR WALTON WAS CREATED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.