Larry Bunker

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.

Larry Bunker
Birth nameLawrence Benjamin Bunker
Born(1928-11-04)November 4, 1928
Long Beach, California
United States
DiedMarch 8, 2005(2005-03-08) (aged 76)
Los Angeles, California
United States
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsDrums, vibraphone
Associated acts

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

  • Live at Shelly's Manne-Hole - as The Larry Bunker Quartette featuring Gary Burton (1966 [1990])

With Chet Baker

With Gary Burton

With Buddy Collette

With Benny Carter

With Bill Evans

With Peggy Lee

With Clare Fischer

With Stan Getz

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Woody Herman

With Richard "Groove" Holmes

With Paul Horn

With Plas Johnson

With Tim Buckley

With Vince Gill

With Stan Kenton

With Al Jarreau

  • We Got By (Reprise Records, 1975)

With Linda Ronstadt

With Sarah Vaughan

With Christina Aguilera

With Diana Krall

With Johnny Mandel

With Shelly Manne

With Wendy Waldman

  • Love Has Got Me (Warner Bros. Records, 1973)

With Diane Schuur

  • In Tribute (GRP, 1992)

With Natalie Cole

With Barry Manilow

With Neil Diamond

With Michael Franks

With Carmen McRae

With Gerry Mulligan

With Kenny Rogers

With Donna Summer

With Oliver Nelson

With Art Pepper

With Michael Bolton

With Shorty Rogers

With Pete Rugolo

With Lalo Schifrin

With Bud Shank

With Lew Tabackin

With Robert Palmer

Notes
  1. Thurber, Jon (17 March 2005). "Larry Bunker, 76; Respected Drummer". Los Angeles Times.

References
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