Al Bundy

This pianist worked as an accompanist to some of the great jazz vocalists, including Billie Holiday, Ruth Brown, and Johnny Hartman. Despite traveling the world, he often stayed close to home with a series of long-running stints at various popular Big Apple nightspots. As a teenager, his family moved up to New York City where he began learning both piano and organ, leading to positions behind the keyboards at a variety of famous Harlem clubs. He also hit the road with a variety of artists, including fellow pianists Erroll Garner and George Shearing. In Chicago, he collaborated with Tiny Davis of the Sweethearts of Rhythm band. Soon he began to build a reputation as a pianist who worked well with singers, leading to the aforementioned stint with Lady Day and bluesy vocalist Brown, as well as Gloria Lynne, Thelma Carpenter, smooth crooner Johnny Hartman, and Orlando Robinson. Bundy even claims to have backed up Madonna, in a photo session at Arthur's Tavern on Grove Street, where Bundy was the house musician for more than 22 years. Jamming with the Material Girl in this setting isn't really such a shock, as Bundy was known for playing with a wide range of guests in this venue, including psychedelic folky Country Joe McDonald, saxophonist Dennis Bram, and trumpeter Johnny Parker. Besides several other long club stints, Bundy toured internationally and performed in such cities as Paris, Rome, and Venice. In his later years, he accompanied singer Marie Blake and worked with players such as Stephen Lowenthal, Mark Nadler, Charley Limburg, and Bobby Peaco. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide