Walter Perkins (musician)


Walter "Baby Sweets" Perkins was an American jazz drummer.
Starting out in Chicago, Perkins began his professional career with Ahmad Jamal in 1956–57. He recorded for Argo Records in 1957 as a leader under the name MJT+3 with on trumpet, Nicky Hill on tenor sax, Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, and Bob Cranshaw on bass. In 1959, he regrouped under the same name with Willie Thomas on trumpet, Frank Strozier on alto sax, Harold Mabern on piano, and Cranshaw on bass; they recorded for Vee-Jay in 1959 and 1960 and played in Chicago until 1962, when he moved to New York City.
Perkins played with Sonny Rollins in 1962 and accompanied Carmen McRae in 1962–63. In 1964 he played with Art Farmer and Teddy Wilson. Following this he recorded with many musicians, including Rahsaan Roland Kirk, George Shearing, Gene Ammons, Charles Mingus, Billy Taylor, Booker Ervin, Jaki Byard, Lucky Thompson, Pat Martino, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Criss, and Charles Earland.

Discography

With MJT+3
With Ahmed Abdul-Malik
With Gene Ammons
With Chris Anderson
With Peter Brötzmann
With Ray Bryant
With Jaki Byard
With Johnny Coles
With Sonny Criss
With Charles Earland
With Booker Ervin
  • Exultation!
With Art Farmer
  • Interaction with Jim Hall
  • Live at the Half-Note with Jim Hall
With Gigi Gryce
With Ahmad Jamal
With J. J. Johnson
With Etta Jones
With Roland Kirk
With Harold Mabern
With Pat Martino
With Charles Mingus
With Sal Nistico
With William Parker
With Duke Pearson
With Dave Pike
With Sonny Stitt
With Frank Strozier
With Billy Taylor
With Clark Terry
With Lucky Thompson
With Bobby Timmons
With John Wright