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Compared
to jazz greats Betty Carter, Nat Cole, Nina Simone, and Milton Nascimento,
vocalist and scat sensation J.D. Walter has become a singular phenomenon
on the music scene. Respected and lauded by the great musicians of the
contemporary circuit, J.D. has shared the stage with
many legendary artists including: saxophonist Dave Liebman, singer/songwriter
Bob Dorough, drummer Billy Hart, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, pianist
Jean-Michel Pilc, saxophonist Bill Evans, bassist John Benitez, singer
Mark Murphy, drummer Greg Hutchinson, drummer Ari Hoenig,
drummer Bill Goodwin, trumpeter Randy Brecker, saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianist
Jim Ridl, trumpeter John Swana, bassist Taurus Mateen, pianist Orrin
Evans, trumpeter Randy Brecker, singer Miles Griffith, and Poet Sonia
Sanchez.
J.D. is grateful for his childhood introduction to the world of music. A product
of his familial church boychoir, J.D. went on to sing with the renowned
"American Boychoir". He attended the University of North Texas
via a vocal jazz scholarship and became a featured soloist on university
recordings. After receiving various awards from the International Association
of Jazz Educators, he left the United States to live in Amsterdam,
Holland to study with acclaimed recording artist Deborah Brown.
J.D. has currently recorded 4 CD's. "Sirens in the C-House"
(Encounter/Dreambox media Records 2000) brought him much critical acclaim.
His second cd, the innovative and experimental "Clear Day" (Doubletime
Records2001) is a collaboration with master musician Dave
Liebman. Two recent releases "Dedicated to You" with the Steve
Rudolph trio (PACT records 2004), and "2Bass, a Face and a little
skin" (to be released) are starting to garner rave reviews. His
first two recordings made it to the "Top 25 Jazz Release" list
of internationally syndicated jazz DJ Bob Parlocha. Moreover, both cds helped
expand J.D.'s listening audience from the shores of America to Europe,
Russia, and the Far East. JD is also a featured member of pianist Orrin
Evans’/Luvpk band, on Imani Records (Feb 2004 release).
JD has appeared on many international radio and television broadcast stations
including: NBC television; National Finland Radio; and Radio Extreme,
Helsinki. He has appeared on live Russian television and radio broadcasts
as well as having served as guest host on various American radio
stations. J.D. has been a featured artist at countless American
jazz festivals and clubs, performed at numerous festivals in Europe and the
Middle East, and toured Russia 10 times, performing in over 80 cities.
A vocal coach for many emerging artists, J.D. is in demand as a clinician
at schools and universities. He has performed numerous clinics for the National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, The Music Educators National Conference,
and has taught at the prestigious Sibelius/Kuopio
Conservatory in Finland, The University of North Texas, The Moscow Music
Consort, and the Kazan Music Conservatory in Russia. J.D. was the vocal
coach for MCA/Motive recording artists "The Jazzy Fatnastees",
jazz singer Roseanna Vitro as well as “American Idol” runner up, Justin
Guarinni. He was also formerly on the faculty of the University of the
Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. JD Currently resides in New York City,
and can be heard at many major jazz clubs and events.
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