Cedar Walton
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Cedar Anthony Walton, Junior (born in 1934) is an American hard bop pianist. After leaving the army, in which he had performed in a jazz ensemble, he joined Kenny Dorham's band. After playing with J. J. Johnson and the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, where he played with Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard. In 1959 he recorded on John Coltrane's seminal album Giant Steps. He left the Messengers in 1964, and recorded with Abbey Lincoln and Lee Morgan, among others, and led the band Eastern Rebellion. He continues to lead his own groups and record through the present.