b. Jack Arthur Walrath, 5 May 1946, Stuart, Florida, USA. A hugely underrated modern jazz trumpeter, Walrath was one of the most talented instrumentalists to work with bass player Charles Mingus during the later part of the great band leader’s career. Like so many major figures in contemporary jazz, he is a graduate of Boston’s Berklee College Of Music, which he attended in the early 60s. After graduating, he crossed from east to west and sunnier, Californian climes, and began to earn a reputation for his big tone and sure technique, touring with Ray Charles (for whom he did a certain amount of arranging) and working locally with bass player Gary Peacock. Moving back to New York in the early 70s, he worked commercially backing singers in soul and R&B bands, before he was discovered by Mingus, who helped revive the Jazz Workshop with Walrath’s charismatic musical presence in 1974. Mingus allowed him more opportunity to stretch his composition and arrangement skills - many of Mingus’ last recordings carry credits for Walrath’s arrangements and direction. After Mingus’ death in 1979, Walrath continued to work with Jazz Workshop drummer Dannie Richmond, co-leading the last Mingus band formation featuring saxophonist Ricky Ford, pianist Bob Neloms and Cameron Brown taking over on bass, as well as touring and recording under his name (with his band: the Masters Of Suspense). Recommended recordings include 1992’s Serious Hang, a lively quintet performance featuring fellow ex-Mingus man Don Pullen on Hammond organ, guitarist David Fluczysnki, bass player Michael Formanek and drummer Cecil Brooks III. Walrath is a gifted, confident bop improviser with an infectious sense of humour.