Hard bop pianist Cedar Walton made a name for himself by playing with the cream of the jazz crop in the 1950s and '60s, and continued to distinguish himself as a bandleader in the '70s. While in the military in the mid-'50s, Walton met and played with several emerging jazz musicians, including Don Ellis, and on his return to New York he collaborated with important bop artists such as Kenny Dorham, J.J. Johnson, and Art Blakey. He proved an adept accompanist to singers as well as to instrumentalists, and in the late '60s, worked with artists such as Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, and George Coleman. In the '70s he was active as co-leader of the groups Eastern Rebellion and Soundscapes. He continued to tour and record into the 2000s, releasing several fine albums. After a brief illness, he passed away in 2013.