Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

LAMBERT, Donald

(b 1904, Princeton NJ; d 8 May 1962, Newark) Fine left-handed pianist in East Coast stride style (with strong beat emphasising tenths in the bass; see James P. Johnson, Fats Waller); influenced by Paul Seminole (b 1904, d 1932, Asbury Park) with whom he did a double act. Lambert was not ambitious, disliked New York, preferring neighbourhood bars in New Jersey where he could play as and what he pleased; but Eubie Blake described him as one of the greatest and even Art Tatum was alleged to be unwilling to follow him. He made four sides on Bluebird in 1941, jazzing the classics; albums (all '59-62 material, some privately made at Wallace's Tavern): Giant Stride on Jazzology, Harlem Stride Classics 1960-2 on Pumpkin, Meet The Lamb on IAJRC (International Association Of Jazz Record Collectors, Islington, Ontario).