Victor Feldman

Victor Stanley Feldman (7 April 1934 – 12 May 1987) was an English jazz musician who played mainly piano, vibraphone, and percussion. He began performing professionally during childhood, eventually earning acclaim in the UK jazz scene as an adult. Feldman emigrated to the United States in the mid-1950s, where he continued working in jazz and also as a session musician with a variety of pop and rock performers.

Early life Feldman was born in Edgware on 7 April 1934. He caused a sensation as a musical prodigy when he was discovered, aged seven. His family were all musical and his father founded the Feldman Swing Club in London in 1942 to showcase his talented sons. Feldman performed from a young age; from 1941 to 1947 he played drums in a trio with his brothers; when he was nine he took up piano; when he was 14 started playing vibraphone. He also took a prominent role in the musical Piccadilly Hayride (1946–1948).

Feldman recorded with Ronnie Scott's orchestra and quintet from 1954 to 1955, which also featured other important British jazz musicians such as Phil Seamen and Hank Shaw. It was Scott who recommended that Feldman emigrate to the US, which he did in 1955. Once there, his first steady work was with the Woody Herman Herd. Afterward he studied arranging with Marty Paich. He had frequent return trips to the UK over the following years. His eight-week visit in 1956–57 included studio recording sessions and club appearances. After Herman he joined Buddy DeFranco for a short time. The 5-CD Shelly Manne Black Hawk set, originally released on LP in September 1959, is a good representation of Feldman's unmistakable driving comping behind the soloists, helping to define the session as a valuable hard bop genre element.

In 1957, Feldman settled in Los Angeles permanently and then specialised in lucrative session work for the US film and recording industry, with the exception of joining the Cannonball Adderley Quintet in 1960–61. Feldman's vibraphone soloing is featured extensively on the Grammy Award–winning The Music from Peter Gunn, with AllMusic writing, "There's some particularly impressive work by drummer Shelly Manne and vibes player Victor Feldman, whose cool, understated playing seems to deliberately recall that of Milt Jackson."

He also branched out to work with a variety of musicians outside of jazz, recording with artists such as Frank Zappa in 1967, Joni Mitchell in the 1970s and Tom Waits and Joe Walsh in the 1980s. Feldman is the only musician to appear on all seven Steely Dan albums released in the 1970s and 1980s (prior to the band's long hiatus) aside from its leaders Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Though he does not appear on Steely Dan's non-album single "Dallas" b/w "Sail the Waterway", he did play on Poco's cover of "Dallas".

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With David Ackles Subway to the Country (Elektra Records, 1970) With Arthur Adams I Love Love Love My Lady (A&M Records, 1979) With Pepper Adams California Cookin' (Interplay, 1991) With Cannonball Adderley Cannonball Adderley and the Poll Winners (Riverside, 1960) The Cannonball Adderley Quintet at the Lighthouse (Riverside, 1960) The Cannonball Adderley Quintet Plus (Riverside, 1961) Live in Europe (Pablo, 1984) Paris 1960 (Fantasy, 1997) With Nat Adderley A Little New York Midtown Music (Galaxy, 1978) With Alessi Brothers Alessi (A&M Records, 1976) Long Time Friends (Qwest Records, 1982) With Peter Allen I Could Have Been a Sailor (A&M Records, 1979) Not the Boy Next Door (Arista Records, 1983) With Gregg Allman Band Playin' Up a Storm (Capricorn Records, 1977) With Curtis Amy Way Down (Pacific Jazz, 1962) With Patti Austin Patti Austin (Qwest Records, 1984) With Hoyt Axton Southbound (A&M Records, 1975) With The Beach Boys L.A. (Light Album) (CBS Records, 1979) With The Beau Brummels The Beau Brummels (Warner Bros., 1975) With Beaver & Krause All Good Men (Warner Bros., 1972) With Bob Bennett Non-Fiction (Star Song, 1985) With Stephen Bishop Careless (ABC Records, 1976) With Bobby Bland Reflections in Blue (ABC Records, 1977) With Blue Magic Message from the Magic (Atco, 1978) With Karla Bonoff Wild Heart of the Young (Columbia Records, 1982) With Terence Boylan Terence Boylan (Asylum, 1977) Suzy (Asylum, 1980) With Teresa Brewer Music, Music, Music (Amsterdam, 1973) With Toni Brown Toni Brown (Fantasy, 1980) With Solomon Burke Electronic Magnetism (MGM Records, 1971) With Kim Carnes St. Vincent's Court (EMI, 1979) With Valerie Carter Wild Child (ARC, 1978) With Johnny Cash John R. Cash (Columbia, 1975) With David Cassidy Dreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes (Bell, 1973) With Chad and Jeremy The Ark (Columbia, 1968) With Kerry Chater Part Time Love (Warner Bros. Records, 1977) Love on a Shoestring (Warner Bros. Records, 1978) With Cher I'd Rather Believe in You (Warner Bros. Records, 1976) Cher (Casablanca Records, 1979) Prisoner (Casablanca Records, 1979) With James Clay A Double Dose of Soul (Riverside, 1960) With Rita Coolidge Never Let You Go (A&M Records, 1983) With Bob Cooper Coop! The Music of Bob Cooper (Contemporary, 1958) With Jerry Corbetta Jerry Corbetta (Warner Bros. Records, 1978) With Christopher Cross Christopher Cross (Warner Bros. Records, 1979) With Dalbello Pretty Girls (Talisman, 1979) With Miles Davis Seven Steps to Heaven (Columbia Records, 1963) With Kiki Dee Stay with Me (Rocket, 1979) With Buddy DeFranco Blues Bag (Vee-Jay, 1965) With Jackie DeShannon New Arrangement (Columbia Records, 1975) With Cliff DeYoung Cliff De Young (MCA, 1975) With Neil Diamond Heartlight (Columbia Records, 1982) With The 5th Dimension Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes (Bell, 1971) With Dion DiMucci Streetheart (Warner Bros. Records, 1976) With Ned Doheny Hard Candy (Columbia, 1976) With The Doobie Brothers Stampede (Warner Bros. Records, 1975) Livin' on the Fault Line (Warner Bros. Records, 1977) With Charlie Dore Listen! (Chrysalis Records, 1981) With Judith Durham Gift of Song (A&M, 1970) With Billy Eckstine The Modern Sound of Mr. B (Mercury, 1964) With Yvonne Elliman Yvonne (RSO Records, 1979) With The Emotions Sunbeam (Columbia, 1978) With Phil Everly Star Spangled Springer (RCA Records, 1973) With The Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers Sing (Warner Bros. Records, 1967) With José Feliciano Feliciano/10 to 23 (RCA Victor, 1969) Romance in the Night (Motown, 1983) With The Floaters Float Into the Future (MCA Records, 1979) With Four Tops Keeper of the Castle (Dunhill, 1972) Night Lights Harmony (ABC, 1975) With Michael Franks Objects of Desire (Warner Bros. Records, 1982) With The Free Movement I've Found Someone of My Own (Columbia Records, 1972) With Glenn Frey The Allnighter (MCA Records, 1984) With Richie Furay Dance a Little Light (Asylum Records, 1978) With Ted Gärdestad Blue Virgin Isles (Polar, 1978) With Terry Garthwaite Hand in Glove (Fantasy, 1978) With Marvin Gaye Let's Get It On (Motown, 1973) With Amy Grant A Christmas Album (Myrrh Records, 1983) With Cyndi Grecco Making Our Dreams Come True (Private Stock Records, 1976) With Lani Hall Blush (A&M, 1980) With Albert Hammond Albert Hammond (Mums Records, 1974) With Woody Herman At the Monterey Jazz Festival (Atlantic, 1959) With Dan Hill If Dreams Had Wings (Epic Records, 1980) With Paul Horn Impressions of Cleopatra (Columbia Records, 1963) With Thelma Houston I've Got the Music in Me (Sheffield Lab Records, 1975) With Paul Jabara Keeping Time (Casablanca, 1978) The Third Album (Casablanca, 1979) With Milt Jackson Memphis Jackson (Impulse!, 1969) With Al Jarreau Jarreau (Warner Bros. Records, 1983) With Elton John 21 at 33 (Rocket, 1980) The Fox (Geffen, 1981) With J. J. Johnson A Touch of Satin (Columbia Records, 1962) Concepts in Blue (Pablo, 1981) With Plas Johnson This Must Be the Plas (Capitol Records, 1959) With Jack Jones Harbour (RCA Victor, 1974) With One More Look at You (RCA Victor, 1977) With Quincy Jones The Hot Rock OST (Prophesy, 1972) Roots (A&M Records, 1977) With Rickie Lee Jones Rickie Lee Jones (Warner Bros. Records, 1979) Pirates (Warner Bros. Records, 1981) Girl at Her Volcano (Warner Bros. Records, 1983) The Magazine (Warner Bros. Records, 1984) With Sam Jones The Chant (Riverside, 1961) With Thomas Jefferson Kaye Thomas Jefferson Kaye (Dunhill Records, 1973) First Grade (Dunhill Records, 1974) With The Keane Brothers The Keane Brothers (20th Century Records, 1977) With Stan Kenton Hair (Capitol, 1969) With Barney Kessel Carmen (Contemporary, 1958) Let's Cook! (Contemporary, 1962) With B. B. King L.A. Midnight (ABC Records, 1972) With Bobby King Bobby King (Warner Bros. Records, 1981) With John Klemmer Waterfalls (Impulse!, 1972) Intensity (Impulse!, 1973) With Gladys Knight Miss Gladys Knight (Buddah, 1978) With Nicolette Larson Nicolette (Warner Bros. Records, 1978) In the Nick of Time (Warner Bros. Records, 1979) With Peggy Lee If You Go (Capitol, 1961) Then Was Then – Now Is Now! (Capitol, 1965) Make It With You (Capitol, 1970) Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota (Capitol, 1972) Mirrors (A&M, 1975) With Ketty Lester Ketty Lester (Records By Pete, 1969) With Gordon Lightfoot Shadows (Warner Bros. Records, 1982) With Lulu Lulu (Polydor Records, 1973) With Mary MacGregor ...In Your Eyes (Ariola Records, 1978) With Henry Mancini The Music from Peter Gunn (RCA Records, 1959) With Harvey Mandel Righteous (Phillips, 1969) With Shelly Manne Shelly Manne & His Men Play Peter Gunn (Contemporary, 1959) Son of Gunn!! (Contemporary, 1959) At the Black Hawk 1 (Contemporary, 1959) At the Black Hawk 2 (Contemporary, 1959) At the Black Hawk 3 (Contemporary, 1959) At the Black Hawk 4 (Contemporary, 1959) My Son the Jazz Drummer! (Contemporary, 1962) Daktari (Atlantic Records, 1967) At the Black Hawk 5 (Contemporary, 1991) With Jon Mark Songs for a Friend (Columbia, 1975) With Gene McDaniels Natural Juices (Ode, 1975) With Bobby McFerrin Bobby McFerrin (Elektra Records, 1982) With Kate & Anna McGarrigle Pronto Monto (Warner Bros. Records, 1978) With Carmen McRae Can't Hide Love (Blue Note, 1976) With Randy Meisner Randy Meisner (Asylum, 1978) With Melanie Photograph (Atlantic Records, 1976) Seventh Wave (Neighbourhood Records, 1983) With Jim Messina Messina (Warner Bros. Records, 1981) With Stephanie Mills Merciless (Casablanca Records, 1983) With Liza Minnelli Tropical Nights (Columbia, 1977) With Adam Mitchell Redhead in Trouble (Warner Bros. Records, 1979) With Blue Mitchell Stablemates (Candid Records, 1977) With Joni Mitchell The Hissing of Summer Lawns (Asylum Records, 1975) Hejira (A&M Records, 1976) Wild Things Run Fast (Geffen, 1982) With The Miracles City of Angels (Tamla, 1975) With The Monkees Instant Replay (Colgems, 1969) With Melba Moore Peach Melba (Buddah Records, 1975) With Maria Muldaur Sweet Harmony (Reprise Records, 1976) Open Your Eyes (Warner Bros. Records, 1979) With Michael Martin Murphey Flowing Free Forever (Epic Records, 1976) Lone Wolf (Epic Records, 1978) The Heart Never Lies (Liberty Records, 1983) With Anne Murray Together (Capitol, 1975) Where Do You Go When You Dream (Capitol, 1981) With Oliver Nelson Zig Zag (MGM, 1970) With Michael Nesmith The Wichita Train Whistle Sings (Dot Records, 1968) With Randy Newman Born Again (Warner Bros. Records, 1979) With Olivia Newton-John Totally Hot (MCA Records, 1978) Physical (MCA Records, 1981) With Wayne Newton Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast (Chelsea, 1972) While We're Still Young (Chelsea, 1973) She Believes in Me (Aries, 1979) With Nielsen Pearson Nielsen/Pearson (Capitol, 1980) With Kenny Nolan A Song Between Us (Polydor, 1978) With Alan O'Day Appetizers (Pacific, 1977) Oh Johnny! (Pacific, 1979) With Pages Pages (Epic, 1978) With Freda Payne Out of Payne Comes Love (ABC, 1975) With Leslie Pearl Words & Music (RCA Records, 1982) With Art Pepper and Zoot Sims Art 'n' Zoot (Pablo, 1995) With Esther Phillips All About Esther (Mercury Records, 1978) With Sam Phillips Dancing with Danger (Myrrh Records, 1984) With Poco Head over Heels (ABC, 1975) With June Pointer Baby Sister (Planet Records, 1983) With Jean-Luc Ponty and Frank Zappa King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa (World Pacific Jazz, 1970) With Billy Preston Pressin' On (Motown, 1982) With Lou Rawls Love All Your Blues Away (Epic, 1986) With Helen Reddy Music, Music (Capitol Records, 1976) With Della Reese Della on Strings of Blue (ABC, 1967) I Gotta Be Me...This Trip Out (ABC, 1968) Let Me in Your Life (LMI, 1973) With Minnie Riperton Minnie (Capitol Records, 1979) With Rockie Robbins I Believe in Love (A&M Records, 1981) With Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Once Upon a Christmas (RCA Records, 1984) With Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders (Contemporary, 1958) With Brenda Russell Brenda Russell (Horizon Records, 1979) With Evie Sands Estate Of Mind (Haven Records, 1974) Suspended Animation (RCA Victor, 1979) With Leo Sayer Here (Chrysalis Records, 1979) With Boz Scaggs Down Two Then Left (Columbia Records, 1977) With Lalo Schifrin Gone with the Wave (Colpix, 1964) The Cincinnati Kid (MGM, 1965) With Seals and Crofts Seals & Crofts (TA Records, 1969) Year of Sunday (Warner Bros. Records, 1971) The Longest Road (Warner Bros. Records, 1980) With Bud Shank Girl in Love (World Pacific, 1966) Bud Shank Plays Music from Today's Movies (World Pacific, 1967) Magical Mystery (World Pacific, 1967) With Carly Simon Another Passenger (Elektra Records, 1976) With Patrick Simmons Arcade (Elektra, 1983) With Frank Sinatra Moonlight Sinatra (Reprise, 1965) Strangers in the Night (Reprise, 1966) That's Life (Reprise, 1966) Francis Albert Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim (Reprise, 1967) Sinatra & Company (Reprise, 1971) With The Singers Unlimited Feeling Free (Pausa, 1975) A Special Blend (MPS, 1976) With O. C. Smith Together (Caribou, 1977) With David Soul Band of Friends (Energy, 1979) With Dusty Springfield Cameo (ABC Dunhill Records, 1973) With Candi Staton Young Hearts Run Free (Warner Bros. Records, 1976) House of Love (Warner Bros. Records, 1978) With Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill (ABC Records, 1972) Countdown to Ecstasy (ABC Records, 1973) Pretzel Logic (ABC Records, 1974) Katy Lied (ABC Records, 1975) The Royal Scam (ABC Records, 1976) Aja (ABC Records, 1977) FM (No Static at All) (MCA Records, 1978) Gaucho (MCA Records, 1980) With Foster Sylvers Foster Sylvers (Capitol, 1978) With The Sylvers New Horizons (Capitol, 1977) With James Taylor Gorilla (Warner Bros. Records, 1975) In the Pocket (Warner Bros. Records, 1976) With Livingston Taylor Man's Best Friend (Epic Records, 1980) With Willie Tee Anticipation (United Artists Records, 1976) With Three Dog Night Coming Down Your Way (ABC, 1975) With Mel Tormé Back in Town (Verve, 1959) With The Manhattan Transfer Pastiche (Atlantic, 1978) Mecca for Moderns (Atlantic, 1981) With Gino Vannelli Brother to Brother (A&M Records, 1978) With Leroy Vinnegar Leroy Walks! (Contemporary, 1958) Leroy Walks Again!! (Contemporary, 1963) With Tom Waits Heartattack and Vine (Asylum Records, 1980) Swordfishtrombones (Island Records, 1983) With Narada Michael Walden Awakening (Atlantic, 1979) With Wendy Waldman The Main Refrain (Warner Bros. Records, 1976) With Joe Walsh There Goes the Neighborhood (Asylum Records, 1981) With Dionne Warwick Love at First Sight (Warner Bros. Records, 1977) Friends in Love (Arista Records, 1982) With Wayne Watson Man in the Middle (Milk & Honey, 1984) With Jimmy Webb Angel Heart (Real West Production, 1982) With The Whispers Love Is Where You Find It (Solar, 1982) With Deniece Williams Song Bird (Columbia Records, 1977) With Joe Williams With Love (Temponic, 1972) With Lenny Williams Taking Chances (MCA Records, 1981) With Paul Williams Here Comes Inspiration (A&M, 1974) With Gerald Wilson Feelin' Kinda Blues (Pacific Jazz, 1965) On Stage (Pacific Jazz, 1965) The Golden Sword (Pacific Jazz, 1966) With Renn Woods Out of the Woods (Columbia, 1979) With Betty Wright Betty Wright (Epic Records, 1981) With The Youngbloods Elephant Mountain (RCA Victor, 1969) With Frank Zappa Lumpy Gravy (Capitol Records, 1968)