Duke Pearson (1932–1980) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, who played a pivotal role in shaping the Blue Note catalogue in the 1960s.
Cannonball Adderley and Donald Byrd were among the earliest champions of Pearson’s compositions and skillful piano playing. However, Pearson’s career took on a new direction in the early 1960s, when he arranged multiple songs on Donald Byrd’s hit 1963 album “A New Perspective”. Pearson went on to fill the role of A&R at Blue Note Records, while continuing to play as a bandleader – notably with the Byrd-Pearson big band – and a ubiquitous session musician.
