In 1960, he moved to New York City, where he played with Lloyd Price, Wild Bill Davis, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Slide Hampton, Grant Green, Sweets Edison, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Rowles, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, in which he played for five months.
He accompanied Ella Fitzgerald for more than a decade, and worked with Oscar Peterson in a trio setting.
[1] Many of Durham's projects, both as sideman and as leader, came about because of his association with producer Norman Granz, who used him in performances with Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Harry Edison, Tommy Flanagan, and Joe Pass.
Durham has also performed often with pop and soul musicians such as Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Marvin Gaye.
With Monty Alexander With Charles Earland With Tommy Flanagan With Al Grey With Red Holloway With Milt Jackson With Clifford Jordan With Jay McShann With Shirley Scott With Oscar Peterson With Joe Pass With Al Grey With Jesse Green With Shawnn Monteiro and Massimo Faraò Trio With Waymon Reed