Labor Day weekend is not generally considered an optimum time to release a new record, but for Detroit jazz musicians; there is no better time to showcase your new music than at The Detroit Jazz Festival which starts this Friday, August 29th. Trumpeter Walter White has taken advantage of this auspicious time to release and celebrate his latest offering Most Triumphant on Summit Records. His CD release concert will be Sunday, August 31st at 2PM on the Waterfront Stage.
Walter White is held in highest regard worldwide for his early work with Bob James, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, The White-Margitza Quintet and The Mingus Big Band. After making significant musical marks in New York City and Miami, Walter White returned to his home state of Michigan where he remains incredibly musically active. He performs in shows at The Fisher Theater, leads international clinics and master classes, teaches at Oakland University and now records for Summit Records.
Walter joined Linda Yohn at WEMU to talk about Most Triumphant which boasts a trio Detroit jazz luminaries: pianist Gary Schunk, bassist Miles Brown and drummer Sean Dobbins. Walter shared insight about his early musical life in Ferndale Michigan, his love of Maynard Ferguson, his formative years at The Julliard School Of Music, his philosophy of musical practice and his early association with The Detroit Jazz Festival 35 years ago.
Walter is playing at the height of his power and with pure joy. Along with his Waterfront Stage CD release concert, he can be heard with Nicholas Payton on Saturday evening for theSketches Of Spain recreation, the Sunday evening Wayne Shorter-Miles Davis tribute featuring Wallace Roney and on Monday’s Detroit Homecoming Big Band celebration for Jimmy Wilkins. We hope you will enjoy what Walter had to say about his rich musical life. Special thanks to producer Brad McNett and to Walter White for making the time to visit WEMU.
