George Wallington

George Wallington (born Giacinto Figlia; October 27, 1924, Palermo, Sicily – Cape Coral, Miami, February 15, 1993) was a highly regarded American bop pianist and composer.

From 1943 to 1953 he played with Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Marsala, Charlie Parker, Serge Chaloff, Allan Eager, Kai Winding, Terry Gibbs, Brew Moore, Al Cohn, Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, Red Rodney, and Lionel Hampton, and recorded as a leader for Savoy and Blue Note (1950). From 1954 to 1960 he led groups in New York that included newcomers Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, and Phil Woods, recording as leader with these musicians for the Prestige and Atlantic labels. In 1960 he retired to work in the family air conditioning business, citing the stress of endless touring, but returned to music in 1984 and recording three albums. His style is often compared to the legendary Bud Powell.

His best known compositions are the bop standards "Lemon Drop" and "Godchild".

He can be heard playing Lady Fair on the Verve release Metronome All-Stars 1956.

As leader

 * The George Wallington Trio (Savoy, 1949–51) with Kai Winding, Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach
 * The George Wallingon Trios (OJC, 192-53) with Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach, Curly Russell
 * Trios (RCA Vogue, 1954) with Pierre Michelot
 * Live at the Café Bohemia (OJC, 1955) with Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean
 * Jazz for the Carriage Trade (OJC, 1956) with Phil Woods
 * The New York Scene (OJC, 1957)
 * Jazz at Hotchkiss (Savoy, 1957) with Donald Byrd, Phil Woods
 * The Prestidigitator (East-West Records, 1958) with J. R. Monterose
 * The Pleasure of a Jazz Inspiration (VSOP, 1985) piano solo
 * ''The Workshop of the George Wallington Trio (Clef MG N-24) with Arthur Taylor and Curly Russell

As sideman

 * Serge Chaloff: We the People Bop (Cool & Blue, 1946–49)
 * Al Cohn: Cohn's Tones (Savoy, 1950, 1954)
 * Stan Getz: Early Getz (OJC, 1949–53)
 * Gerry Mulligan: Mulligan Plays Mulligan (OJC, 1951)
 * Annie Ross: Annie Ross Sings (OJC, 1952)
 * Lionel Hampton: Oh! Rock (Natasha, 1953)
 * Bobby Jaspar: Bobby Jaspar with George Walligton, Idrees Sulieman (OJC, 1957)