ROOTS

Jazz pianist Walt Wagner started his classical piano lessons at age six. Thanks to supportive parents and encouraging teachers, he persevered with daily practicing into college. In the meantime, he was playing trombone in concert band and orchestra, and (unbeknown to his piano teachers) electric keyboard in the Northwest rock band, The Exotics. Rock and popular music gave Walt a rudimentary introduction to improvising and playing rhythmically with other musicians. Then he found Jazz, and it was all over. He began to discover great jazz pianists one after the other—Art Tatum, Fats Waller, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Dick Hyman, Ahmad Jamal are just a few—attending performances, listening to records, and emulating each particular player’s style. Over time, his own singular style emerged, defined further by the brilliant technique and phrasing that came from a deep classical experience.

PERFORMANCE

Walt’s career has been as varied and interesting as his musical development. Starting in Seattle nightclubs, he quickly attracted favorable media reviews and moved from playing background music to nightly feature performances in Sun Valley, where he first began to receive national attention. This led to years of performances with major artists, including Bob Hope, Jay Leno, Peggy Fleming, Bill Cosby, George Burns, Lily Tomlin, Roberta Flack, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Newhart—and as pianist-conductor with Peggy Lee. He has played on The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and filmed an Andy Williams & Peggy Fleming special at Madison Square Garden. He was featured for two years at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at University of Idaho. For many years (and currently) Wagner has continued to play at Seattle’s world-renowned restaurant, Canlis.

Most recently, the Walt Wagner Trio—featuring electric bassist Dan Dean and drummer Ben Smith—have performed often at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, in Seattle.

COMPOSING

Commissions include: Fanfare, for Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra (conductor, Adam Stern); Rhythms – for Piano, Winds & Percussion, for Washington Wind Symphony (pianist, Walt Wagner; conductor, Gene Aitken); and The Miracle – Concerto for Piano & Orchestra, for CRISTA Ministries and a recording with Seattle Symphony Orchestra (pianist, Walt Wagner; conductor, Gerard Schwarz). 

RECORDINGS

THE COMFORTER (Semaphone #79318; solo-piano): an album of sacred music. Beloved spirituals, hymns, and three Walt originals, contemplative and improvisational.

TRAJECTORY (Semaphone #79317; EP): The Walt Wagner Trio, a cutting-edge version of the classic piano/bass/drums trio. Four Wagner originals and a hypnotic cover of a DJ Shadow tune. Featuring electric bassist Dan Dean and drummer Ben Smith.

REWORKS – LIVE AT CANLIS (Sub Pop #SP1193; solo-piano): The finale concert after 20 years; piano distillations of the music of Band Of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Buzzcocks, Phoenix, Prince, My Bloody Valentine, DJ Shadow, The Left Banke and Goat.

IN THE PINK — Music of Pink Floyd (Semaphone #79315 solo-piano): Interpretations of the lyrical, bluesy, mysterious music of DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, THE WALL, and THE DIVISION BELL.

CHARIOTS OF FIRE (Semaphone #79315; CD single; solo-piano): a powerful interpretation of Vangelis’ beloved theme.

SPIRIT (Semaphone #79314; solo-piano): a Christmas collection of European and American traditional carols.

PEARLS, VOLUME 1 (Semaphone #79313; solo-piano): a collection of jazz and pop tunes, displaying Walt’s expansive blend of improvisation and lyricism.

THE MIRACLE – FOR PIANO & ORCHESTRA/ RHYTHMS – FOR PIANO, WINDS & PERCUSSION (Semaphone #79312; piano & orchestra), with Wagner as composer/soloist and Gerard Schwarz conducting The Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

EVEN THERE (Semaphone #70022), a collection of hymns, produced and arranged by Wagner for piano, string quartet, African drums and guitar, featuring the gifted vocalist Sue Nixon.