Results for "Walter Smith III"

Walter Smith III

Born: September 24, 1980

From an early age, Walter began taking music very seriously. “My first gig was playing at a McDonald's in Houston with another saxophone player. I took a solo on “Blue Bossa.” It was terrible. People clapped, and I figured if I could get away with that and get applause, how could I fail?”

Although it may appear Smith is a new voice on the scene, he is widely recognized as an adept performer, accomplished composer, and inspired educator. Smith’s recent release, return to casual, garnered critical acclaim from audiences and critics alike. “return to casual [is] Smith’s deeply poised first album as a leader for Blue Note... The whole enterprise rings of cool sophistication in a small-group style that Smith and his contemporaries helped define... In that sense, return to casual is not just a homecoming of sorts, but also an emphatic confirmation.” In September of 2024, Smith released his sophomore album for Blue Note Records, “three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not”, featuring a new offering of original music.

Twio Vol. 2

By Walter Smith III

Label: Blue Note Records
Released: 2026
Track listing: My Ideal; Circus; Light Blue; Casual - Lee; Lawns; I Should Care; Fall; Escapade; Isfahan; Swingin' at the Haven.

Luciano Biondini, Michel Godard, Lucas Niggli: Lawns

by Ludovico Granvassu
May 19, 2026

Since Carla Bley's passing in 2023, the growing fascination with her songbook--which had already been steadily building for years--has increased exponentially, as more and more musicians turn to her unique blend of melodic clarity and emotional ambiguity. And so, by now, pieces such as “Ida Lupino" and “Lawns" have cemented their place in the pantheon of ...

Sharon Minemoto, Sean Imboden, Eliane Elias, Arturo Sandoval and more

by Benjamin Boddie
May 14, 2026

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Sharon Minemoto, Sean Imboden Large Ensemble, Tumbao Bravo With Paul Vornhagen, Eliane Elias, Arturo Sandoval, Ray Obiedo, Paul Silbergleit Trio, Brian Lynch, Ben Markley Big Band, Peter Erskine, Barry Greene, Steve Kovalcheck, Arvind Ramdas Marcus Golhabel, Mark Winkler, Eli Howell, Nat Reeves, Faye Carol, Pat Bianchi, Mike Clement, Pete Mills, ...

Walter Smith III: Driving Modern Jazz With An Unyielding Voice

by Stephen Braunginn
April 25, 2026

From his early beginnings at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston to leadership roles at Berklee College of Music, Walter Smith III shares stories from his journey and discusses his commitment to gender equity in jazz. We take a deep dive into his album three of us are from Houston Reuben ...

New Music From Smith, Barakan, LDL, Harrington Jaffe & Shiroishi, And More

by Bob Osborne
April 16, 2026

This playlist of all new releases offers a sophisticated journey through the expansive landscape of contemporary and classic jazz, seamlessly transitioning between structured elegance and avant-garde exploration. Listeners are invited to traverse a sonic terrain that ranges from intimate, tradition-steeped trio performances and lush big band arrangements to the more challenging, textural fringes of free improvisation. ...

Peter Erskine, Walter Smith III, Shawn Lovato, Jed Levy-Phil Robson Quartet

by Cheryl K.
April 13, 2026

During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music, choice cuts from new releases from saxophonists John Sweenie, Ben Flocks, Brian Landrus, and Walter Smith III; drummer Peter Erskine; two selections from saxophonist and flautist Carl Clements; bassist/composer Shawn Lovato; and the Jed Levy-Phil Robson Quartet. Playlist Regina Carter “Love Theme from Spartacus“ ...

Walter Smith III, Paul Keller Orchestra, Javon Jackson, Bria Skonberg and more

by Benjamin Boddie
April 9, 2026

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Walter Smith lll, Paul Keller Orchestra, Javon Jackson, Tierney Sutton & Tamir Hendelman, Jenny Klukken, Jon Gold, Bria Skonberg, Stacey Kent, Arvind Ramdas, Yelena Eckemoff, Julian Davis Reid, Sam Yahel, Jazzlab Orchestra, Lisanne Lyons, Nicole McCabe, Corcoran Holt, Jeremy Pelt, Aubrey Johnson, Steven Husted, NOLA Resistance Quintet, LehCats, Dave Slonaker ...

Classics from Paul Chambers, Eddie Jefferson, and Others With New Music from Joe Gransden, Pat Bianchi and More

by David W. Daniels
March 24, 2026

Artists named above, plus classics from Betty Carter, Big John Patten, and others. New music from Marques Carroll, Ron Carter with Ricky Dillard, and more. Birthday recognition for Charles Lloyd, Nat King Cole, Gary Meek, and others.Playlist Grachan Moncur III “New Africa"--from Exploration (Capri) 00:00 McCoy Tyner “Little Madimba"--from Time For Tyner (Blue Note) ...

Jon Irabagon, Yelena Eckemoff, Walter Smith III and Eric Mingus with Catherine Sikora

by Hobart Taylor
March 18, 2026

Persian jazz fusion from Qajar Jazz + Shabaka, Niia, Nina Simone re-mixed and Adrian Younge's latest. Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Qajar Jazz “Hot Jazz" from Sovereign (Self-Produced) 00:21 Yelena Eckemoff “Gamla Stan" from Rosendals Garden (L&H) 04:13 Arnold Ludvig “ Port of Thor" from Live @ Maggies (TUTL) 13:47 Catherine Sikora/Eric Mingus “Lament for ...