Larry Bunker
American jazz musician (1928–2005)
Musical artist
Lawrence Benjamin Bunker (November 4, 1928 – March 8, 2005) was an American jazz drummer , vibraphonist , and percussionist . A member of the Bill Evans Trio in the mid-1960s, he also played timpani with the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra.
Biography
Born in Long Beach, California , Bunker was a central figure on the West Coast jazz scene, one of the relatively few who actually were from the region. In the 1950s and 1960s he appeared at Howard Rumsey 's Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach , and performed with Shorty Rogers and His Giants and others. At first he played primarily drums , but increasingly he focused on vibraphone and was later highly regarded for his playing of timpani and various percussion instruments.
A dependable and in-demand studio drummer and vibist, Bunker achieved particular distinction by recording with Billie Holiday , Ella Fitzgerald , Peggy Lee , Diana Krall , and many other jazz greats. In 1952, he was the drummer in one of Art Pepper 's first groups. In 1953 and 1954, Bunker played drums in some of the earliest of Gerry Mulligan 's groups. From 1963 to 1965, he was, intermittently, the drummer in the Bill Evans trio. His work in movie soundtracks spanned over fifty years, from Stalag 17 (1953) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) to The Incredibles (2004), and included soundtracks by John Williams , Henry Mancini , Quincy Jones , Miklós Rózsa , Jerry Goldsmith , Johnny Mandel , Lalo Schifrin and many other composers .
Bunker died of complications of a stroke in Los Angeles at age 76.[ 1]
Discography
As Leader
With Christina Aguilera
With Chet Baker
With Cheryl Bentyne
Something Cool (Columbia, 1992)
With Michael Bolton
With Pat Boone
Pat Boone Sings Guess Who? (London, 1963)
With Tim Buckley
With Gary Burton
With Benny Carter
With Rosemary Clooney
With Nat King Cole
With Natalie Cole
With Buddy Collette
With Bobby Darin
With Neil Diamond
With The 5th Dimension
With Bill Evans
With Clare Fischer
With Michael Franks
With Stan Getz
With Vince Gill
With Dizzy Gillespie
With Tramaine Hawkins
To a Higher Place (Columbia, 1994)
With Woody Herman
With Richard "Groove" Holmes
With Paul Horn
With Al Jarreau
We Got By (Reprise Records, 1975)
With Dr. John
With Plas Johnson
With Stan Kenton
With Diana Krall
With Peggy Lee
With Lou Levy
Jazz in Four Colors (RCA, 1959)
With Jon Lucien
Song for My Lady (Columbia, 1975)
With Johnny Mandel
With Barry Manilow
With Shelly Manne
With Carmen McRae
With Gerry Mulligan
With Mark Murphy
With Walter Murphy
Walter Murphy's Discosymphony (New York, 1979)
With Oliver Nelson
With Robert Palmer
With Art Pepper
With Shorty Rogers
With Kenny Rogers
With Linda Ronstadt
With Pete Rugolo
With The Sandpipers
With Lalo Schifrin
With Diane Schuur
With Bud Shank
With Nina Simone
With Frank Sinatra
With The Singers Unlimited
Feeling Free (MPS, 1975)
Friends (Pausa, 1977)
With B. W. Stevenson
We Be Sailin' (Warner Bros., 1975)
With Donna Summer
With Lew Tabackin
With The Manhattan Transfer
With U2
With Sarah Vaughan
With Wendy Waldman
Love Has Got Me (Warner Bros. Records, 1973)
Notes
References
External links
International National Artists Other