Victor Feldman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Victor Stanley Feldman (April 7, 1934 in Edgware, Middlesex – May 12, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, United States) was a British jazz musician. He caused a sensation as a musical prodigy when he was "discovered" at age 7. He appeared as a featured soloist with Glenn Miller when he was 10 years old, playing the drums. His vibraphone, piano and conga drum playing were also notable.

Before leaving the U.K. in 1955 to work in the U.S., 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, among others. It was Scott who recommended that Feldman emigrate to the U.S., which he did in 1957. Once there, his first steady work was with the Woody Herman Herd. From there he went on to join Buddy DeFranco. He recorded with many different jazz artists, including Benny Goodman, George Shearing, Cannonball Adderley and Miles Davis, most notably on Davis' 1963 album Seven Steps to Heaven.

Feldman was in great demand as a session musician, and branched out into rock music, working with artists such as Steely Dan in the 1970s and Tom Waits in the 1980s.