Walter Duda

Walter Duda is a natural musician, one who has had no formal music training. The desire to communicate through the universal language of music is in his blood. Being a self-taught piano player and vocalist, he has developed his own individual style of composing. His song style is a crossover of pop and jazz and combines appealing melodies with jazzy arrangements.

Walter has written several original compositions, arranged and coordinated recording sessions with some notable studio musicians, helped to form an independent record label, negotiated a national distribution deal for its catalog, and co-produced two CDs.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the sixth of seven children, he did not begin to play music until he was in college, when he taught himself to play the guitar. After graduating from the University of Detroit with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, he taught a foreign language (German) on the high school level in Fairfield, Connecticut and then began to pursue a Master's degree in humanities. After a year of graduate school, he found that music was his language of choice for communicating.

With his earliest interest in music, he identified with the rock and roll and pop styles of Dion and Bobby Darrin. The he admired the vocal harmony arrangements of Brian Wilson. While in Detroit, he was exposed to the Motown sound. He was next introduced to jazz by a fried with an extensive record collection. Thereafter he became influenced by the clever songwriting of Mose Allison and Michael Franks.

Walter has performed in many legendary New York City clubs including Catch A Rising Star, The Bitter End, Mikell's and Seventh Avenue South. He has appeared on Manhattan Cable, Cablevision of Connecticut and Century Cable in Los Angeles.

Walter's music background also includes experience as a free-lance writer. He has written articles and record reviews on many musicians including virtuoso bassist Miroslav Vitous (an original member of Weather Report), drummer Bill Bruford (Yes/King Crimson) and singer/songwriter Michael Franks.

Walter Duda - Daylight Again

His new album released at World Alert Records Daylight Again has a creative edge , that a lot of the smooth jazz albums are lacking. There's a cool mix of funk, jazz, smooth jazz and soul in the music.

Beginning with No matter what an atmospheric smooth introduction with dreamy piano running and guitar play, Duda surprises us in Are you leaving now with a rocking piece in

full contrast to the first song.

The following instrumental Valerie catches us anew with a smooth romantic touch. Remarkable Duda on piano accompanied by the sax of Danny Wilensky on a texture of flowing synth-sounds.

Again a hard break to the main piece Daylight Again offering a funky syncopic drive, incredible fresh and with enough room for Wilensky's sax solo.

Fooled before bears the stamp of Duda's voice.

The follow-up Complex circumstances is a mix of jazz-rock with dainty reminiscenses to Spanish classical guitar pieces. Chris Herbert on flute reminds me of Nestor Torres'

Talk to me.

Again a smooth interrupt with Deep into the Night with a very pleasant laid back interplay

of all musicians. It could be a smooth jazz radio hit.

Funky again One Good Reason exposing Duda's brilliantly piano play and Chris Herbert's kicking saxophone and Keep On Trying.

Manhattan Island gives a final signal in a cool mix of jazz, funk and rock, very nice the steelpan-synths and the percussion backbone like Andy Narell's The Caribbean Jazz Project. It is something that you should definitely listen to.