Larry Bunker


Lawrence Benjamin Bunker 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.

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 and Glengarry Glen Ross to The Incredibles, 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.

Discography

As Leader
With Chet Baker
With Gary Burton
With Buddy Collette
With Benny Carter
With Bill Evans
With Clare Fischer
With Stan Getz
With Dizzy Gillespie
With Woody Herman
With Richard "Groove" Holmes
With Paul Horn
With Plas Johnson
With Stan Kenton
With Diana Krall
With Johnny Mandel
With Shelly Manne
With Carmen McRae
With Gerry Mulligan
With Oliver Nelson
With Art Pepper
With Shorty Rogers
With Pete Rugolo
With Lalo Schifrin
With Bud Shank
With Lew Tabackin
With Tom Waits