Nancy Walker

Nancy Walker Biography

Pianist and composer Nancy Walker has been recognized with honours Canada-wide, including the Montréal Jazz Festival’s Grand Prix de Jazz, the National Jazz Awards Keyboardist Of The Year Award, a JUNO nomination for Instrumental Album Of The Year, and an induction into the Mississauga Music Walk Of Fame. A dynamic improviser, an artful composer and a responsive accompanist, Nancy has been praised both for her work as a solo artist and as a musical collaborator. As a side player she can be heard on a wide range of recordings, by artists from saxophonist Kirk MacDonald to vocalist Emilie-Claire Barlow to children’s entertainer Raffi. More recently she can be heard on the 2024 recording Here’s To Life by John Neudorf (on which she was both pianist and co-producer), and Sarah Jerrom’s 2025 JUNO-nominated Magpie.

Nancy has several discs to her credit as leader. Her most recent recording (release date Sept. 19, 2025) is Deeper Down, featuring Nancy as pianist and composer, with Tara Davidson (saxophones), Lauren Falls (bass) and Ethan Ardelli (drums). Her compositions reflect her view of the age we live in - at times intense, at times poignant, at times cerebral. Her inspirations include architecture, cinema, literature, visual art and nature.

“Nancy Walker has played enough piano to know how to keep listeners interested however hard she pushes the boundaries of familiarity.” Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star

“Harmonically she's influenced by the usual suspects—Evans, Hancock, Jarrett, etc.—but her delicate touch and denser harmonic constructs brings to mind British pianist John Taylor as well…Walker's music is easy on the ears, but don't mistake that for lacking in interest or challenge, because she masks an advanced harmonic concept within an accessible veneer.”  John Kelman, All About Jazz

“A fine example of the modern jazz musician’s art.” Mark Miller, The Globe and Mail

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