A versatile studio musician who is skilled on all types of percussion, Larry Bunker's main significance to jazz has been as a drummer and vibraphonist. He was a member of
the Gerry Mulligan Quartet in 1953 (replacing
Chico Hamilton) and then primarily worked in the studios but emerged in the jazz world for associations with
Stan Getz,
Warne Marsh,
Clare Fischer,
Gary Burton,
Dizzy Gillespie and most significantly as a member of
the Bill Evans Trio (1963-65), making occasional recordings in a jazz setting through the decades. Larry Bunker's only opportunities to lead his own band on record resulted in three obscure albums in a 1963 quartet that included
Gary Burton; one came out on Vault and the other two appeared as Japanese Interplay CDs. ~ Scott Yanow