MySpace.com - Walt Szymanski - BROOKLYN, New York - Jazz / Latin / R&B

Walt Szymanski
Jazz / Latin / R&B

		"Walt Szymanski Music" BROOKLYN, New York United States Profile Views: 6329 Last Login: 7/18/2008
View My: Pics \| Videos

Contacting Walt Szymanski

MySpace URL:

http://www.myspace.com/waltszymanskimusic

Walt Szymanski: General Info

Member Since	7/13/2007
Band Website	waltszymanski.com
Band Members	Trippin' & Love's Brief Departure: Scott Petersen (ten) Paul Keller (bass) Phil Kelly (pno) Jonathan Knust (dms) 90 Degrees with 100 Percent Humidity: Alex Harding (bari) Andy Bemke (pno) Massa Kamaguchi (bass) Jonathan Knust (dms) Kidz: Tino Derado (pno) Wayne Batchelor (bass) Gene Calderazzo (dms) You're the Boss: Carla Cook (voc) Mark Gross (alto) Lance Bryant (ten) Alex Harding (bari) Walt (voc/lead tpt) Steve Wiseman (solo tpt) Brian Bonvissuto (tbn) Rick Germanson (pno) Matt Hughes (bass) Willard Dyson (dms) Nica's Dream: J.C. Heard Orchestra J.C. Heard (dms) Russ Miller (alto) Scott Petersen (ten/solo) Les Sabina (ten) Mark Berger (bari) Bob Fazecash (lead tp) Walt (solo) Walter White (tp) Albert Duncan (tbn) Ed Gooch (tbn) Mike Pashenee (bs tbn) Jeff Halsey (bass) Earl VanRiper (pno)
Influences	Herbie Williams, Marcus Belgrave, J.C. Heard, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Woody Shaw, Charlie Parker, Booker Little, Wayne Shorter, Clifford Brown, Igor Stravinsky,Elvin Jones, Bela Bartok, Max Roach, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Marv Holladay, Sonny Stitt, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Blue Mitchell, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Paul Chambers, Louis Armstrong, Maurice Ravel, Machito, Cannonball Adderley, Kenny Dorham, Chocolate, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Santos, Bach, Beethoven, Ed Nuccilli, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat Adderley, Frank Sinatra, Joe Zawinul, Sarah Vaughn, Eddie Jefferson, King Pleasure, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Duke Ellington, McCoy Tyner, Chick Correa, Duke Pearson, Thad Jones, Fats Navarro, Clark Terry, Snooky Young, Beatles, Stones, U2, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Maurice Andre, James Tamburini, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Irakere, Bill Evans, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Al Jarreau, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Luciano Pavarotti.
Sounds Like	The Spirit of Detroit
Record Label	Duct Tape Music
Type of Label	Indie

Walt Szymanski's Latest Blog Entry [Subscribe to this Blog]

[View All Blog Entries]

About Walt Szymanski

Walt began his musical journey from a small home on the east side of Detroit that was constantly resonating with the sound of music. Listening to his mother play and sing the Broadway standards on the family piano and hearing the records of Nat Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Al Hirt as well as the constant refrains of the ever present Motown sound presented him a tremendous musical foundation upon which to build.

The age of seven found Walt as a soprano soloist in the 120 voice, all male choir of St. Raymond in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He made his first professional appearance at that time, singing as well as soloing in front of an audience of 3000 at Ford Auditorium. As the choir began to performed more in orchestral situations, Walt was able to hear the beautiful sonority of the trumpet as it soared above the masses. His love quickly changed from vocalizing to playing the trumpet and upon entering high school he quickly captured first chair in wind ensemble and orchestra as well as playing lead trumpet in the jazz big band and school pit orchestra. In his senior year of high school, Walt was presented the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia award for the "Best Jazz Trumpet" in the State of Michigan.

After a brief flirtation with medical studies, and a year of classical trumpet studies at the University of Michigan, Walt transferred to Oakland University in Rochester, Mi., where an emerging Jazz Studies Program under the direction of Marvin "Doc" Holladay seemed to be the direction he wanted to pursue. The jazz program, which drew it's faculty from the great jazz musicians staffing Motown records, included trumpet artists Marcus Belgrave and Herbie Williams, saxophonists Sam Sanders and Donald Washington, bassists Ed Pickens and Ali Jackson, pianists Harold McKinney and Johnny Allen and drummers Jimmy Allen and "Pistol" Allen. At Oakland, Walt got first hand experience performing with Jazz greats Clark Terry, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, "Dangerous" Dan Turner, Phil Woods, Joe Farrell and John Clark.

It was also during this period that Walt began to record and tour with many local Detroit acts including Johnny Taylor, the Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, the Dramatics, Wild Cherry and the Brides of Funkenstein. He also co-led the jazz quintet, IMPACT, which hosted a legendary Detroit Sunday afternoon jam session and worked extensively throughout the mid-west region.

From 1979 through 1982, Walt served as staff arranger, trumpet soloist and vocalist at the Grand Hotel, on Mackinac Island, MI., It was there that he made his first contact with legendary jazz drummer great, J.C. Heard., who was so inspired by Walt's arranging ability that he hired him as music director for his newly formed Duke Ellington Repertory Orchestra, the J.C. Heard Orchestra. His apprenticeship with J.C. found Walt sharing the stage with one of his greatest idols, Dizzy Gillespie. In addition to Diz, Walt performed in small combo situations with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Milt Hinton, George Shearing, Buddy Tate, Nat Pierce, Buddy DeFranco, Slim Galliard and Joe Bushkin.

Walt, also prolific as a composer (formal studies with Stanley Hollingsworth), served as composer in residence for the Detroit Dance Collective, the Acoustic Arts Ensemble and the Detroit Concert Choir. Additionally, Walt has served as Instructor of Jazz Trumpet, Arranging and Composition Studies at Oakland University (Rochester, MI) 1985-92, as well as the Center for Creative Studies (Detroit, MI) 1988-90. His numerous artistic awards include 1972 Best Trumpet (State of Michigan Phi Mu Alpha), 1976-77 Arranger and Soloist awards (NAJE, IAJE), 1989-92 Best Trumpet and Best Composer awards (Metro-Times Annual Music Awards), and 1993 Jazz Hall of Fame (Metro-Times Annual Music Awards).

His true love of straight ahead Jazz inspired Walt in 1982 to form and co-lead a hard bop group, the Motor City Jazz Quintet, which in addition to performing at numerous clubs and concert venues, was a perennial favorite at the Detroit/Montreux Jazz Festival. For 10 years, from 1982 to 1992, the quintet performed original compositions and arrangements, always packed houses and rave reviews. It was during this time also that Walt created numerous arrangements for J.C. Heard and his Orchestra. After the untimely death of J.C. in 1988, Walt knew that he would have to move on if he was to maintain the energy level established through his association with Mr. Heard. This "moving on" meant New York City, the "Big Apple".

Establishing residency in New York in 1993, Walt quickly established musical affiliations with Barry Altschul, Kenny Drew Jr., Kirk Lightsey, Cecil McBee, Eddie Hendersen, David Scnitter, and Jimmy Madison. His first New York jazz group, Emergence, featured new compositions inspired by Walt's move to NYC. He soon was performing as an instrumentalist/soloist with Ray Santos and CAME, the Mingus Big Band, Wayne Andre, Nancy Banks Orchestra and the Jazz Composers Orchestra. His current musical activities include principal trumpet for the Billy Strayhorn Project, the Charles Tolliver Big Band, co-leader of the Jambalya Brass Band and musical director of George Gee's Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra and Jump Jivin' Wailers. In 2004 Walt co-produced a CD with legendary arranger/composer Frank Foster entitled "Settin' the Pace" featuring the George Gee Orchestra.

Also a lover of classical music as well, Walt is principal trumpet with the Metropolitan Brass Quintet and the Gotham Brass Quintet. He additionally has appeared with the Harlem Festival Orchestra and the Greater Allen Cathedral of New York Orchestra.

In 2001, Walt and two fellow musicians, Alex Harding (bari sax) and Gary Wittner (guitar) formed Trio WAG and were selected to present the music of Louis Armstrong as Jazz Ambassadors for the U.S. State Department and Kennedy Center. As Jazz Ambassadors, the trio found themselves serving as the first cultural exchange group in the Balkans since the onset on civil war in the region. The trio performed numerous concerts and workshop/clinics throughout Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia. In 2003 they embarked on a second tour taking them to Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Japan.

One of Walt's main current and exciting project finds him working as musical director/soloist/composer with pianist and songstress Ms. Jo Thompson and the Detroit Jazz Jewels. Originally formed as a quartet they, appeared at all of the major cabaret/jazz venues in NYC, including the Tavern on the Green, the Supper Club, the Oak Room, Michael's Pub and Eighty Eights. In 1994 they were recipients of the Backstage Award for Best Instrumental/Vocal Group as well as the MAC award. In 2000, Walt and Jo decided to expand the sound to include the 13 member J.C. Heard Orchestra and have subsequently recorded two albums, "Slender, Tender and Tall" and "Forever Fabulous". They have performed to packed houses and rave reviews at the world famous Blue Note, Iridium and Birdland jazz clubs as well as the Lincoln Center and extensively throughout Japan.

Walt Szymanski's Friend Space (Top 40)

Walt Szymanski has 545 friends.

George Gee Swing Orchestra

Gary Wittner

Andy Sebastia

Greg Utech

John Sinclair

Christian Hidrobo

Phillip J. Hale Music

Eddi Andreas

The Mark Gross Project

Thornetta

bennygale

Willard Dyson

Rayse Biggs

Wendell Harrison

Jerry LeDuff

Dwight Adams

Johnnie Bassett

Jim Mola

Keith Kaminski

Dave Schnitter

Francisco Echeverria

Rick Matle

Sheila Landis

Brandon Wright

Johnny O'Neal

Jon-Erik Kellso

Howling Diablos

Gayelynn McKinney & The McKinney Zone

The Larry McCray Band

The Funk Brothers

Terry "Thunder" Hughley

Howard Johnson

Eugene Mann

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Earl Klugh

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

Rick Roe

The Odessa Harris Group

His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama

View Walt Szymanski's Friends: | |

Walt Szymanski's Friends Comments

Displaying 50 of 125 comments ( View All | Add Comment )

Walter	Jul 16 2008 6:24 PM
Bella-Rockstars Glued	Jul 7 2008 1:00 AM 24/7 Rock Radio! Hope you can tune in on Monday from 4 to 7pm EST for an all request show for the troops! Make sure you get registered on our official site! Bella www. rockstarsglued. com
Christian Hidrobo	Jun 12 2008 8:28 AM hey papito chucha como andas buey comiendo tripa mishqui en ny va benne oye te mando abrazos and kissies jajajajajajajajajjajaa are you ready for work whit me or not yet maricon? answer me se te quere i love you we missing you
Dave McMurray	Jun 11 2008 6:05 PM WHAT'S UP, WALT! IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. YOU'RE SOUNDING REAL GOOD OVER HERE. "MUSIC IS LIFE...LIVE IT!" PEACE, DAVE
Big Bands Swing !	Jun 4 2008 12:52 PM Hi Just stopping by to say "Hello" Hoping all is going great for you. Luv Debbie xx The Debbie Curtis Radio Big Band Putting the BIG back in Big Band Jazz & Swing! www. debbiecurtis. co. uk
J. Sylvester	May 30 2008 11:07 AM
Queen Rose	May 30 2008 5:20 AM Dear Walt, I like your music! beautiful playing! Thanks for the info! love & blessings, Queen Rose
Giovanni Vello	May 9 2008 11:00 AM Hi...thanks for the add and congratulations...good music, Giovanni!
Senny	May 7 2008 7:14 PM Hey Walt, I look forward to working with you again, it's been too long! TS
Christian Hidrobo	May 6 2008 11:04 AM oye green go escribeme carajo
Nadia Angilella	May 1 2008 1:15 PM Ciao Walt,I'm honored to have you among my friendes..thanks and compliments...kisses from Florence (italy), Nadia
Christian Hidrobo	Apr 13 2008 5:20 PM que bolon contigo papa I need to talk wuit you about the cd bye papa good luck we missing you
John Rogers	Apr 8 2008 12:46 PM Hey Walt, Just checkin' in...hope to hit with you real soon. Layta, JR
Gino Castillo Pearl percussionist	Mar 22 2008 5:23 AM GINO CASTILLO EN EL SHOW DE RUBEN BLADES http://www. ginocastillo. com
Trish Shandor	Mar 17 2008 2:05 PM Hi Walt, Hope to see you again in Detroit. I missed your last performance at Oakland. I was gigging. I can't wait to hear you play again. ~Trish Shandor~
Terry "Thunder" Hughley	Mar 11 2008 1:15 AM What's up My Bro., Hope all is well. Get More at COMMENTYOU. com
Ted Trimble	Feb 20 2008 3:47 PM Ill try to make it but Iam working alot Saturday.What time is it?It depends what time.Thurs are free days for me. Later Ted
Ted Trimble	Feb 20 2008 1:13 PM Walterzoid tomorrow we hear and fix the shit finally its rough on some tracks but its really burning man killer band we had Teddy! hasta minyana Amigo
Michel Ferré	Feb 11 2008 10:06 AM Habla papa , eres un mostro de la trompeta , disfruto mucho tocar contigo .Un abrazon
Greg Utech	Feb 7 2008 2:19 PM Hope your world is good...Glad you like the new tune. Greg,
Ted Trimble	Feb 7 2008 1:20 PM Yo Walter shoot Tino and e

MySpacea place for friends