“Walder himself is a splendid bassist with a very big sound...” - Eric Myers
“...these musicians pass with flying colours, producing an album that epitomises how well the essential language of jazz is played today in Australia.” - Eric Myers
Michael Walder Trio
A world-class jazz band from Sydney, Australia.
Led by bassist Michael Walder, the Michael Walder Trio is a "first-class modern jazz rhythm section [that] propels what is basically a fierce hard-bop group" (Eric Myers, AJAZZ, 2021). Bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the project, the band released their debut album 'Blues for Ray' in 2020 with special guests on a number of tracks. The album features swinging arrangements of well known standards in the style of the great past trio recordings of legendary American jazz bassist Ray Brown.
At the forefront of the band is Michael Walder, who has already established himself as one of the most in-demand and experienced bass players in Sydney. Having performed all over the country as a sideman, this is the first time Walder has led his own project outside of the corporate sphere. On piano is Aaron Blakey, who relocated from Tokyo to Sydney in 2011 and is fast becoming recognised as one of the country's most gifted jazz pianists. The youngest member of the group is Alex Hirlian on drums, winner of the 2018 'National Jazz Awards' held in Wangaratta. Other musicians on the album include triple 'National Jazz Awards' finalist Simon Ferenci on trumpet, rising star and prodigious talent Chris O'Dea on tenor saxophone and established Australian artist and vocalist Nic Jeffries, who has performed both nationally and internationally under his own name and worked as a frontman with legendary Australian jazz musician James Morrison.
Having already been invited to hold interviews on local community radio stations and currently receiving airplay across a number of platforms, including the national broadcaster, ABC Jazz, the Trio plans to tour their album in early 2022 (COVID-19 restrictions permitting).
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