Kickstarter

Hi, JD Walter here- I’m recording a new CD the 6th and 7th of September 2012, at Systems 2 in Brooklyn NY. This CD differentiates itself from my previous six, self/coproduced recordings, in that I have asked long time collaborator, pianist Orrin Evans to Produce this project. Orrin Evans has garnered much attention in the jazz world for his great body of recorded work, playing with the greats of jazz young and old, as well as being a founder of the Philly based band Luvpark, (of which I am a member) and founding and directing the much acclaimed Captain Black big band. I have been working with Orrin for years now, and in discussing my next project with him, he suggested producing it.

 

It is a big leap of faith for me to hand the reigns of my next project to someone… to basically put one’s career in another’s hands. Not only do I have the utmost faith in Orrin, but I have the added bonus of having bassist Eric Revis as co producer. One could not ask for more forward thinking artists to lead the way. Not only will they be producing and co producing, but they will also be playing on the CD. Rounding out the trio will be one of the great drummers of my generation, Nasheet Waits. I will also be using a great Guitarist from Paris who will remain nameless for now. Suffice it to say I am in awe of his musical prowess.

 

One artist that has greatly influenced my life has been Betty Carter. I’m primarily enamored of her as an educated, ever growing musician and bandleader more then anything else. Talk about forward thinking. Eric Revis, is a Grammy Award winning bassist who started his professional career playing with Betty Carter and since 1997 has been a member of Branford Marsalis’ quartet, so he is a natural choice in understanding the direction that I have chosen to take.

 

Although my first four CD’s used no electronics with the voice, my following two did, and I became known for using various devices such as looping machines, octave, chorus, and delay pedals. This recording will have little or none of that present.  I am looking, not for mass appeal, but to continue the legacy of the greats before me, and stay true to this great American art form.

 

Another aspect that differentiates this recording is that my previous six were all recorded in one day or at a live concert. This CD will afford me 2 days in the studio, a small luxury I have yet to experience. The money I raise will go towards the producer and co producer, musicians, studio time, sound engineers, videographers, travel and lodging for a couple of the musicians, photographers, promotion, production and all the little incidentals involved.

I have been busy writing and arranging new compositions and arrangements for this group, and am excited to present this body of work to them for their input and ideas and to hear these ideas come to fruition in the studio with this amazing cast of players.

 

There is no limit for your gracious giving, and the more you give, the more you get in return depending on the package you choose from the list on the right of this page. The bonuses are great, but the greatest gift for you, is knowing that you’ve contributed to the arts, artists, and a project sure to be exciting.

 

It is important to understand that we only have 31 days to raise $10,000 or more, and if we fall short of that number, the project is cancelled and your money refunded. This is an exceedingly low budget for this undertaking, and I will no doubt be putting some of my own money towards this project as well. Your contributions will greatly aid in making this project come true !!!

 

Thanks for your support !!!! Best, JD Walter

"Walter is reshaping what jazz singing is all about. He is opening up familiar material to the most adventurous kinds of interpretation, while continuing to engage and entertain his audiences...he is an original in an art overpopulated with copycats." -- Don Heckman, LA Times --Live Jazz review from the Jazz Bakery

"“I Was Telling Her about You,” which spotlighted Walter’s sonorous timbre, remarkable control of pitch and vibrato, and compelling way with a lyric. The audience was spellbound by Walter’s dramatic singing and Ridl’s piano artistry."-Mark Osteen, The Baltimore Jazz Alliance-Volume VIII issue III

"Walter's artistry was entirely apparent, from his fearless scatting to his harmonically original reworking of standards." Jazzreview.com, from a review of Jim Ridl's "Your Cheating Heart"

"Dispensing with widely known themes of Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans or Stevie Wonder, the musician offers absolutely provocative points of view on traditional jazz" Review from Kharkov Za Jazz Festival, Ukraine- Andrei Gorshkov- Inform magazine vol-3 (March 2008)

"Vocalist JD Walter displayed a talent for scat singing that rivals the best in jazz history"---Michael Caruso, The Chestnut Hill Local (Philly, PA)

"The guy is like an instrument -- a phenomenon!! " -- Dave Liebman

"The really important thing is that starting from the first sound, JD captures the listeners attention and now they completely belong to him." -- Maria Panteleyeva, Poinyl Jazz Report, Nizhniy Novogorod, Russia

"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, Marge Hofacre's JAZZ NEWS

"a highwater mark in Vocal Jazz.. an absolutely modern music that inspires and points the way..."- Bob Dorough- singer/songwriter, composer of ABC's Schoolhouse  Rock, and Vocalist on Miles Davis's "the sorcerer"

"The Philly vocalist with the soaring improvisational style...showcases both his Betty Carter-esque way of elasticizing a melody and his adept scat singing..." ---Nate Chinen, Downbeat critic

"He does to a song what Betty Carter did, making it uniquely his own. 'Turn Out the Stars' will convince you. Walter is a natural who has can't miss written all over him." --- Frank Rubolino, Cadence magazine

"Five stars! Five stars I tell you! 'Sirens in the C- House' is without a doubt a five star CD...From track one to track nine a stunner. " --- Don Williamson, Allaboutjazz.com

"Throwing aside conformity and convention, he uses all sorts of vocal devices to provide a new perspective." ---Dave Nathen, All Music Guide, getmusic.com

"Walter...uses his voice as just another instrument in the ensemble, much as Betty Carter or Anita O'Day did. With his smoky sound, Walter wavers tones ever so slightly, comes in when he damned well feels like it to stretch the confines of a song, growls, moans, exclaims and jabs with uncanny pitch and right-on articulation...a gem of a performance...Walter realizing in a wordless vocal way, perhaps as Milton Nascimento does, the potential of the human voice for gripping the heart...let's hope that the word gets out about J.D. Walter's exceptional CD." ---All About Jazz

"Those in the know have already checked out J.D. Walter, the Philly vocalist with the soaring improvisational style...The arrangements are impressive, too..."--- Philadelphia City Paper

"This CD is an amazing vocal workout. If you ever wondered what the legendary folk-rock singer Tim Buckley would have sounded like as a Jazz singer, here's a possible answer." ---Cadence Magazine (review of 2bass and a face)

"I wouldn't be surprised if he ultimately distinguishes himself as one of a very few vocalists whose improvisations will be transcribed and studied" Excerpt from a live review with the Jim Ridl Quintet at the Deerhead Inn By Victor L. Schermer, Jazzreview.com