EPK
What People Are Saying
“Walter is reshaping what jazz singing is all about. He is an original in an art overpopulated with copycats.”
— Don Heckman, LA Times
“He does to a song what Betty Carter did, making it uniquely his own. Walter is a natural who has can't miss written all over him.”
— Frank Rubolino, Cadence Magazine
“He's built a reputation for going down his own idiosyncratic path, while simultaneously crafting music that's at once accessible and adventuresome, and undeniably soulful.”
— John Murph -Downbeat Magazine
“Not Bleckmann, not Elling, not even Murphy - can rival the outre audacity of JD Walter”
— Christopher Loudon - Jazz Times
PHOTOS
“...lithe and audacious”
— Nate Chinen- New York Times
“The guy is like an instrument--a phenomenon!!”
— Dave Liebman
“I mean, he scats like nobody else. Comparisons fail me. He plays with long tones like Betty Carter, takes risks like Kurt Elling, possesses a velvety smoothness like Mel Torme, investigates wordless ululations like Milton Nascimento, croons with the confident serenity of a Nat Cole."”
— Bill Donaldson, JAZZ NEWS
“I wouldn't be surprised if he ultimately distinguishes himself as one of a very few vocalists whose improvisations will be transcribed and studied”
— John Murph -Downbeat Magazine
“He is a motherfucker! He’s something else. It’s wonderful what he does, and did. He’s exciting to hear live, and he’s building up…this is too much above most jazz fans.”
— Mark Murphy - Jazziz (Interview, Oct. 2, 2007)