artist info

"There are not many pianists with whom he can be compared. There are touches of wizardry that remind of jazz and rock, yet he has the technical fluidity of a classical craftsman. There is a charisma about him that generated a standing ovation with the audience yelling for more." - Portland Oregonian

PERFORMANCE

Walt Wagner has performed with Jay Leno, Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, George Burns, Lily Tomlin, Roberta Flack, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Newhart, and as pianist- conductor with Peggy Lee. He toured internationally with Peggy Fleming in “A Concert On Ice”, and has performed extensively at Sun Valley, Idaho. He was featured for two years at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at University of Idaho. Recently ending a 20-year engagement at Seattle’s famed Canlis, Walt’s concert finale was live-streamed internationally.

TELEVISION

Wagner’s guest appearances include The Tonight Show, Merv Griffin, and an Andy Williams & Peggy Fleming special at Madison Square Garden.

COMPOSING

Walt fulfilled a commission from Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra (Music Director, Adam Stern) to compose Fanfare for the opening of the final 2004-05 season concert. He premiered his composition, Rhythms - for Piano, Winds & Percussion, performing as soloist with the Washington Wind Symphony, conducted by Gene Aitken. Another commission was a piano concerto, The Miracle - for Piano & Orchestra, recorded with Gerard Schwarz conducting The Seattle Symphony Orchestra, again with Wagner as soloist (see below). He also writes his own jazz-pop arrangements and orchestrations for concerts with symphony orchestras.

RECORDINGS

•REWORKS - LIVE AT CANLIS (Sub Pop #SP1193): 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): 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): a powerful interpretation of Vangelis' beloved theme — the most requested music that Walt has ever performed.

• SPIRIT (Semaphone #79314): a Christmas collection of European and American traditional carols.

• PEARLS, VOLUME 1 (Semaphone #79313): a solo-piano collection of jazz and pop tunes, displaying

Walt's expansive blend of improvisation and respect for the composers' original intent.

•THE MIRACLE - FOR PIANO & ORCHESTRA/ RHYTHMS - FOR PIANO, WINDS & PERCUSSION (Semaphone #79312), 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.