Cedar Walton - (PRESALE 7/3/26) The Maestro - with Special Guest Abbey Lincoln (CD) | Mint (M) Mint (M)

    The Maestro (with Special Guest Abbey Lincoln)
    Artist: Cedar Walton Format: CD Release Date: 7/3/2026 

    Label: Squatty Roo Records
    Vendor: City Hall Records
    Distributor: AMPED
    UPC: 686647334403
    Genre: Jazz
    Release Date: 7/3/2026
    Product ID: SQRO3344.2
    Weight: .24 lb

CD 
Description

Following an extensive international tour, Cedar Walton and his quartet entered the studio in December 1980 at the height of their collective powers. The Maestro captures a band forged on the road-refined, intuitive, and deeply connected-delivering performances that balance precision with spontaneity. At the center is Walton's unmistakable voice as a composer and pianist, blending blues-rooted swing with harmonic depth and lyrical clarity. The program moves effortlessly between Walton originals and timeless standards, each rendered with elegance and purpose. A defining highlight is the presence of Abbey Lincoln, whose intimate and expressive vocal performances add a profound emotional dimension to the recording. Her collaboration with Walton elevates the title track into a poignant tribute that resonates beyond the moment. Featuring a masterful ensemble-Bob Berg (tenor saxophone), David Williams (bass), and Billy Higgins (drums)-The Maestro stands as a document of a working band at it's peak: cohesive, dynamic, and deeply rooted in the jazz tradition. Digitally remastered in 2026, this reissue restores a vital chapter in Cedar Walton's legacy with renewed clarity and presence.

    Tracks
    Credits

    1 The Maestro 4:58 (Cedar Walton)
    2 Rhythm-A-Ning 6:38 (Thelonious Monk)
    3 Not in Love 3:30 (Cedar Walton)
    4 Sabi 6:22 (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque)
    5 A Sentimental Mood 6:50 (Duke Ellington, Manny Kurtz, Irving Mills)
    6 Blue Monk 4:49 (Thelonious Monk)
    7 Castles 4:49 (Cedar Walton)
    8 On the Trail 3:40 (Ferde Grofe)

• Media Condition: Mint (M)
• Sleeve Condition: Mint (M)
• Genre: JAZZ
• Format Type: CD
• Released: 07/03/2026