Chris Walters Live at the Workshop

On Friday, July 12 at 8pm, the Nashville Jazz Workshop welcomes pianist Chris Walters and his quintet for a return appearance in the Jazz Cave. The quintet includes Zeb Briskovich (bass), Jordon Perlson (drums), Alicia Enstrom (violin), and Emily Nelson (cello).

New Orleans born pianist/singer/composer Chris Walters currently lives in Nashville. He tours as Music Director/pianist for Sony Music Masterworks Recording Artist JD Souther, opening each show with a set of his own original music. He also tours as keyboardist with Little Flock Artist Peter Mayer, and with the Jeff Coffin Mu’tet. He has performed with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and recorded the soundtrack for a documentary film scored by Bela Fleck.

At the age of 18, Walters was a finalist in the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra’s Gershwin competition. He attended the Jazz Studies Program at Webster University in St. Louis and was listed by them as a notable alumnus in Downbeat magazine. His debut album, “Strange Fruit”, was featured on National Public Radio’s “Jazz South” program. Chris’ second release, “Cool Blue Swing”, offers 11 tracks of original music. His third album, “Yay! Everybody, Yay!” includes new songs he has written over the past few years as well as works by Alberto Ginastera and Cole Porter, featuring orchestral arrangements around his small band performances.

In October 2018 Chris released an album of original songs titled “Boneyard Thieves.” His most recent project was just released June 14th, titled “Whisper & Howl,” and is an album of mostly original instrumental music, also including a string arrangement of Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer’s “Skylark.”

The band will perform two sets beginning at 8pm. The evening will feature music from the latest two albums as well as music from 2002’s “Cool Blue Swing” & 2012’s “Yay! Everybody, Yay!”

Admission is $25, $15 for high school and college students with ID. Tickets will go on sale Monday July 1 at 10AM and will be available online on this page, by phone 24/7 at Brown Paper Tickets (800-838-3006) or during business hours at the NJW office (242-5299). A small convenience charge is added to online or 800-number purchases.

Policies: The Jazz Cave is a BYOB establishment, with no alcohol or food service. You are free to bring alcoholic beverages and snacks. We sell soft drinks and bottled water. The Jazz Cave is a listening room, and we ask patrons to keep conversation to a minimum and silence cell phones. Audio and video recording is prohibited. Ticket sales are final.

Photo: Graham Gerdeman