Music >> Artists >> Pop
Years Active:
'60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s






Jim Walker

Biography

Flutist Jim Walker is said to have played on the soundtrack of every film released since 1995; those responsible for such grandiose pronouncements may want to hedge their bets by estimating that if Walker does not actually play on a certain hit film, he will in turn have been hired for the sequels, the titles of which are usually followed by a Roman numeral. Fusion jazz fans, in the meantime, may be familiar with Walker through association with several collaborations and combos during the countdown of said genre. In 1981 the flutist was one of the participants in bassist and burnout Jaco Pastorius' head-turning Word of Mouth. A few years later there were recordings from Free Flight, an interesting if somewhat forgotten project in which the fusion of musics had more to do with the third stream vision of classical embracing jazz. It was an appropriate area for Walker and band co-founder (and sometimes just confounding) pianist Milcho Leviev, whose backgrounds were in both musical disciplines. Drummer Peter Erskine of Weather Report and brilliant drum clinic fame was also a member of this ensemble.. Flutist Jim Walker is said to have played on the soundtrack of every film released since 1995; those responsible for such grandiose pronouncements may want to hedge their bets by estimating that if Walker does not actually play on a certain hit film, he will in turn have been hired for the sequels, the titles of which are usually followed by a Roman numeral. Fusion jazz fans, in the meantime, may be familiar with Walker through association with several collaborations and combos during the countdown of said genre. In 1981 the flutist was one of the participants in bassist and burnout Jaco Pastorius' head-turning Word of Mouth. A few years later there were recordings from Free Flight, an interesting if somewhat forgotten project in which the fusion of musics had more to do with the third stream vision of classical embracing jazz. It was an appropriate area for Walker and band co-founder (and sometimes just confounding) pianist Milcho Leviev, whose backgrounds were in both musical disciplines. Drummer Peter Erskine of Weather Report and brilliant drum clinic fame was also a member of this ensemble.

The mid-'80s saw Walker really hitting his stride, showing up on a Wayne Shorter album as well as a Steven Spielberg soundtrack in the same year. In the early '90s he was a member of the Yellowjackets, a fusion outfit whose improvisational buzz sometimes gets them sequestered into the jazz lite or smooth jazz hive. Walker has continued to work in a wide range of musical settings, from classical to Kenny Rogers to accompanying the unique vocal stylings of Shirley Horn. Pianist Mike Garson was the flutist's collaborator on several solo projects released during the '80s and '90s; the ambitious Private Flight featured guest spots from keyboard royalty George Duke and percussion ace Alex Acuña.

Top Albums

The Living Desert, Randy Petersen
1. The Living D..
Guitar Recital: Tennant, Scott - Krouse, I. - York, A. - Bogdanovic, D. - Duarte, J. - Head, B. - Ruiz-Pipo, A. - Mompou, F. - Dowland, J., Scott Tennant
2. Guitar Recit..
The Sounds of Peaks, Plateaus & Canyons, Tim Heintz
3. The Sounds o..
The Spirit of South Dakota, Randy Petersen
4. The Spirit o..
Pied Piper, Mike Garson
5. Pied Piper
Private Flight, Jim Walker
6. Private Flig..
2012 Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA): All-State Concert Band & All-State Symphonic Band, Scott Weiss
7. 2012 Kentuck..
My Beautiful Maggie - Single, Jim Walker
8. My Beautiful..
Enemy - Single, Jim Walker
9. Enemy - Sing..
Pursuit - Single, Jim Walker
10. Pursuit - Si..
Journey To Love - Single, Jim Walker
11. Journey To L..

Top Songs

NameAlbumTimePrice
1.
Passion PlayPrivate Flight5:28$0.99
2.
ExtremetiesPrivate Flight3:29$0.99
3.
Old FoolPrivate Flight4:59$0.99
4.
PavanPrivate Flight4:11$0.99
5.
Kentucky HillsidePrivate Flight3:07$0.99
6.
VictimsPrivate Flight4:36$0.99
7.
SerendipityPrivate Flight3:46$0.99
8.
New EnglandPrivate Flight2:59$0.99
9.
SantiagoPrivate Flight3:23$0.99
10.
My Beautiful MaggieMy Beautiful Maggie - Singl..4:20$0.99
11.
PursuitPursuit - Single1:43$0.99
12.
EnemyEnemy - Single2:19$0.99
13.
Journey To LoveJourney To Love - Single4:11$0.99
14.
HorsemenSpirit of South Dakota6:01$0.99
15.
America the BeautifulSpirit of South Dakota4:45$0.99
16.
Vista VerdeSounds of Peaks, Plateaus &..5:01$0.99
17.
Painted SandSounds of Peaks, Plateaus &..4:35$0.99
18.
Endless CanyonsSounds of Peaks, Plateaus &..5:36$0.99
19.
NarrowsSounds of Peaks, Plateaus &..5:04$0.99
20.
Morning SkySounds of Peaks, Plateaus &..4:43$0.99
21.
Coyote DanceLiving Desert5:17$0.99
22.
BajadaLiving Desert5:09$0.99
23.
SonoraLiving Desert5:18$0.99
24.
Tanque VerdeLiving Desert4:03$0.99
25.
AdmirationPied Piper6:55$0.99

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