Primary Instrument: Piano
Artist Information
Walter Duda is a self-taught musician (piano) and vocalist from New England and a writer and publisher member of ASCAP. He has co-founded an independent record label, negotiated a national distribution agreement and achieved significant radio air play of his music worldwide.
He was born in Connecticut, graduated from The University of Detroit with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and also attended Fairfield University and Wayne State University graduate schools. After a year of teaching a foreign language on the high school level, he decided that music is his language of choice.
With his earliest influences in music, he identified with Rock & Roll singers Dion and Bobby Darin. Then he became a fan of the vocal harmony arrangements of Brian Wilson (Beach Boys), The Beatles and The Hollies. While in Detroit, he was influenced by the rhythms and grooves of The Motown Sound. Next, progressive rock groups Yes and King Crimson caught his imagination. Eventually jazz fusion keyboardists Brian Auger and Geoge Duke inspired him to switch from playing guitar to piano. As a songwriter, his influences include Michael Franks, Mose Allison and Bobby Caldwell.
His first musical composition placed him as a finalist in a scholarship contest sponsored by The Berklee College of Music, Boston. George Butler of CBS Records heard him at an audition in New York City and at a solo performance at Catch A Rising Star and arranged for him to record a voice and piano demo at the legendary A&R Recording in Manhattan. He has since recorded his original music with top New York City session players including Will Lee (David Letterman tv show), Jimmy Madison, Joel Rosenblatt (Spyro Gyra), Chris Parker (Stuff), John Tropea and Dave Weckl and has performed in many NYC music venues.
He has been mentioned in The New York Times, Playbill (program for Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center), The Village Voice (NY), Connecticut Post, Fairfield County Weekly, New Haven Register and Radio and Records. His songs have been included in top selling compilations (Jazz, Vol.1 by Online Artist Network and WSVNRadio.net Hall of Fame, Vol.8).
He has been selected as Featured Artist (Jazzman.com), voted Favorite Artist Of The Week (SkyJazz.com), included in the Very Best Of program (JazzLynx.net-Canada's Smooth Jazz Connection) and has appeared on Manhattan Cable, Century Cable (Los Angeles) and Cablevision of Connecticut.
DayLight Again
World Alert Records
1996
Tracks: No Matter What; Are You Lying Now?; Valerie; Daylight Again; Fooled Before; Complex Circumstances; One Good Reason; Keep On Trying; Manhattan Island.
Walter Duda: piano, vocals; Will Lee: bass; Dave Weckl: drums; Joel Rosenblatt: drums; Steve Clarke:bass; Tim DeHuff: guitar; Danny Wilensky: sax; Chris Herbert: sax; Jeff Jones: synths; Clyde Bullard: bass; Scott Spray: bass.
As A Side Musician
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Primary Instrument:
Piano
Location:
Bridgeport, CT
Willing to teach:
Beginners
Credentials/Background:
New England Music Academy, New Haven, CT
private lessons: Fairfield & New Haven counties (CT)
