Myron Walden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Myron Walden | |
|---|---|
 Myron Walden at the 2014 Newport Jazz Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 18, 1972 |
| Origin | Miami, Florida |
| Genres | jazz |
| Instruments | saxophone, flute, bass clarinet |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Website | https://www.myronwalden.com/ |
Myron Walden (born October 18, 1972) is an American musician, composer, and arranger who is known for his work as a saxophonist, flutist, and bass clarinetist.[1] He has previously recorded and toured with Freddie Hubbard, Ray Barretto, Esperanza Spalding, and Somi.
Myron Walden was born in Miami, Florida, and he moved to The Bronx at the age of twelve. His interest in the alto saxophone developed when he witnessed the close attention his uncle paid to the Charlie Parker record One Night in Washington. Walden was able to procure an alto sax from his middle school music appreciation teacher, and a saxophone player who lived in his building gave him an instruction book. Walden was self-taught until he enrolled in the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, where he met frequent collaborators Dwayne Burno and Eric McPherson.
Walden went on to attend the Manhattan School of Music, and in 1993 won first place in a Charlie Parker competition, which earned him a guest spot with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.[2][3]
Career
Walden began his professional career playing with Roy Hargrove's big band at the Jazz Gallery in 1995, then performed at Smalls with artists such as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Eddie Henderson, Kevin Hays, Stephen Scott, Greg Hutchinson and Eric Harland. Eventually he earned a regular gig on Wednesday nights with his Apex Trio, featuring McPherson (drums) and Burno (bass), who primarily played Walden's own original compositions. Walden recorded and releases six albums as a leader between 1995 and 2005, two each on NYC Records, his own Demi Sound Records, and Fresh Sound New Talent. During this period, he became a member of Brian Blade's Fellowship Band and The New Jazz Composers Octet, which made three recordings as a unit and two with Freddie Hubbard (with whom they performed several times at the Iridium).
Walden then took a nearly five-year break from recording as a leader in order to develop his skills on the tenor and soprano saxophones while composing specifically for those instruments. He released five albums on his record label, Demi Sound, over the course of 2009 and 2010.[2][3] A four-CD live set followed in 2013.
Walden returned in 2025 after a nearly 13 year hiatus from recording as a leader with Flute and Strings on JMI Recordings, which featured Walden on various flutes accompanied by a string quintet. [4]
