JD Walter is a Jazz singers singer-a purist and an innovator. Although his style has been compared to many vocal Titans, it is in the same breath, uniquely his own, and he 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, pianist Andre Kondokov, 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 5 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. "Dedicated to You" with the Steve Rudolph trio (PACT records 2004), "2Bass, a Face and a little skin" (Encounter/Dreambox media Records 2006) and a self released,"live in Portugal" (JWal records 2008) released in September 2008. His first 4 recordings made it to the "Top 25 Jazz Release" list of internationally syndicated jazz DJ Bob Parlocha. Moreover, his cds have helped expand J.D.'s listening audience from the shores of America to Europe, Russia, and the Far East. JD has been a guest artist on many CD's, is also a member of pianist Orrin Evans Luvpk band, with 2 releases on Imani Records (04,07) as well as performing 3 songs on trumpeter Sean Jones latest release, "kaleidoscope", on Mack Avenue records.
JD has appeared on many international radio and television broadcast stations including: NBC television, National Public Radio, National Finland Radio; and Radio Extreme, Helsinki. He has appeared on live Russian television and radio broadcasts, CNN Latin America, 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, the Middle East, Central America and toured Russia 20 times, performing in over 100 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 Sebelius Conservatory in Helsinki Finland, Jazz Palau De Valencia in Spain, Ionian University in Greece, The University of North Texas (invited back as the first vocalist ever on their lecture series), The Moscow Music Consort, and the Kazan Music Conservatory in Russia. JD is a regular on the Music Scene in New York having headlined at such venues as, Lincoln Center, The Jazz Standard, The Jazz Gallery, Joe's Pub, The Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Sweet Rhythm, Smoke, and can be seen frequently at the famed 55 Bar. He was also formerly on the faculty of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Currently resides in New York City, teaches at The Aaron Copeland School of Music, The New School, and can be heard at many major jazz clubs and events.
