J.D. Walter
J.D. Walter (born July 2, 1967 in Abington, Pennsylvania), is a progressive jazz vocalist who currently lives in New York City. Walter's style has drawn comparisons to Betty Carter, Nat King Cole, and Milton Nascimento. He is recognized as a pioneer in the use of electronic effects and looping devices, implementing them in live performance situations with his ensembles, as well as solo work.
Biography and musical career
At age 6, Walter joined the Saint Lukes Boychoir. He later sang in the American Boychoir school. He attended the University of North Texas through a vocal jazz scholarship and was a featured soloist on some of the university's recordings. After spending seven years in Texas and receiving various awards from the International Association of Jazz Educators, he relocated to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to study with Deborah Brown.
Walter has performed at festivals in Europe, the Middle East, Central America and Russia, and has performed in more than 200 cities. He has performed at events for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Music Educators National Conference. He has taught at a number of institutions, including the Sibelius Conservatory in Finland, Jazz Palau De Valencia in Spain, The University of North Texas, The Moscow Music Consort, the Kazan Music Conservatory in Russia, the Prins Claus Conservatorium in Groningen, Holland, Ionian University in Corfu, Greece, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He currently resides in New York City, where he performs frequently. He teaches at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, The New School, City College of New York, Long Island University and the Prins Claus Conservatorium.
Among the musicians Walter has worked with are Nasheet Waits, Eric Revis, Dave Liebman, Bob Dorough, Billy Hart, Nicholas Payton, Jean-Michel Pilc, Bill Evans, John Benitez, Mark Murphy, Greg Hutchinson, Ari Hoenig, Bill Goodwin, Randy Brecker, Tim Warfield, Jim Ridl, John Swana, Seamus Blake, Taurus Mateen, Orrin Evans, Sean Jones, Randy Brecker, Miles Griffith and Sonia Sanchez.
Discography
- Sirens in the C-House (Encounter/Dreambox media Records 2000)
- Clear Day (Double-Time Records 2001) with Dave Liebman
- Dedicated to You with the Steve Rudolph trio (PACT records 2004)
- 2Bass, a Face and a little skin (Encounter/Dreambox media Records 2006)
- Live in Portugal (Jwal Records 2008)
- Live at the 55 Bar (Jwal Records & 55barLLC 2009)
- One Step Away(Jwal Records 2013)