Larry Bunker

Lawrence Benjamin "Larry" Bunker (November 4, 1928–March 8, 2005) was an American jazz drummer, vibraphonist, and percussionist. 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, 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) to "The Incredibles" (2004), and included soundtracks by John Williams, Henry Mancini, Miklós Rózsa, Jerry Goldsmith, Johnny Mandel, and many other composers.

Bunker died of complications of a stroke in Los Angeles at age 76 .

References

• Feather, Leonard. The Encyclopedia of Jazz (Horizon Press, 1960)
• Gordon, Robert. Jazz West Coast: The Los Angeles Jazz Scene of the 1950s (Quartet Books, 1986)

External links

• Todd S. Jenkins, "The Last Post"
• Bill Broughton, "With Larry Bunker on Triangle"
• L. Bunker, "Live with Bill Evans"