Walter Smith III: Listen To The Young Players

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From an early age, Walter Smith III began taking music very seriously. "My first gig was playing at a McDonalds in Matthew Stevens, Kris Davis, Dave Holland and Terri Lyne Carrington.

Smith has developed under the wings of many of the music's greats. Walter is/has been a member of several legendary groups (recording and/or touring) including the Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band, Terence Blanchard Quintet, Eric Harland "Voyager," Bill Stewart Trio, Jason Moran In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall, Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet, the Christian McBride "Situation," Marquis Hill "New Gospel Revisited," Gerald Clayton Quintet, Christian Scott group and the Sean Jones Quintet to name a few. To date, Walter has appeared on over 100 recordings that are released worldwide.

Originally from Houston, TX, Smith now resides in Boston, MA and is Chair of Woodwinds at Berklee College of Music helping to prepare the next generation of young artists.

We spoke recently about his early development, the Houston sound, his thoughts on education, practice, improvisation, leadership, raising a family as a musician, meeting your heroes, and LA real estate.

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