Walter Bolden, 76; Drummer Played With Jazz Greats

Walter Bolden, 76, a drummer and composer who played with many jazz greats in the 1950s, died Feb. 7 of cancer at a hospital in New York City.

Born in Hartford, Conn., Bolden saw his career get a jump-start one night in 1950, when saxophonist Stan Getz went to Hartford and played with a pickup band at the Sundown Club--with Bolden on drums.

Getz liked the band, which included pianist Horace Silver, so much that he made recordings with the group and took it on tour.

Bolden, who had studied at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, moved to New York, where he became a fixture in the jazz scene.

He recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Jackie McLean, Junior Mance and others. He played on Gerry Mulligan’s first album in 1951 and composed music that was recorded by Howard McGhee and Arthur Taylor.

Bolden also taught master classes at the University of Hartford and worked on the staff of Jazzmobile, a project that takes jazz to New York City streets and parks.