NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT...

MUSIC:

Clockwise
CD: Seasoned Wood
2008 HighNote Records

Cedar Walton: There was a show on the radio that featured, once a week, one jazz artist guest and one classical artist guest. So I would have my ear to the radio every Sunday.

NEA JAZZ MASTER CEDAR WALTON...

The jazz bug had bit me and stung me. You know, it was constant pursuit of trying to figure out what these people were doing. They were just ferociously full of technique and wizardry.

CEDAR WALTON LEARNED THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PIANO FROM HIS MOTHER.

She was my main battery, you might say, my supporter and stuff because she started giving me piano lessons. And she was a jazz lover. She took me to concerts. And my mother was reminding me that, "Son, those guys on stage, they don't have music in front of them, but they can read music, so you're gonna have to shape up!" And I'll always appreciate her for that.

MUSIC: up and fades

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