Marty Walker - clarinet
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 Marty Walker has devoted himself to new music and improvisation for over two decades, concentrating on collaborating with composers to inspire new works. Premiering over 80 pieces written especially for him, many of which highlight his bass clarinet playing, he has been a featured soloist in numerous venues throughout the United States and Mexico. These include the New Music America, Miami and Houston Festivals, the International Festival of New Music at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Mexico City's New Music International Festival, Boston's Berklee College of Music, Chicago's Links Hall, Berkeley's Maybeck Recital Hall and Real Art Ways in Hartford (CT). In Los Angeles, he performs frequently (or has performed) on many series such as the Monday Evening Concerts, FaultLines, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (L.A.C.E.), Wires and the former New Music Mondays at the Alligator Lounge. Walker has also broadcast live performances for Pacifica and National Public Radio. 

Walker currently performs and records regularly with Some Over History, Ghost Duo and the Gong Farmers. His recordings can be heard on several labels including Advance Recordings, O. O. Discs, Cold Blue Records, Raptoria Caam, Grenadilla Records, Tzadic and Rastascan Records.

Walker's newest solo recording, For BC: the Redlands Sessions, will be released in Winter, 2000 on CRI's Emergency Music label. 

Critics often praise Walker's work. The Los Angeles Times refers to his performance as "masterfully" executed, as well as saying that his "expressive phrasing…carried [the music] through successfully." El Nacional of Mexico City describes his "flawless" playing as taking "the audience to another musical dimension," and The Clarinet claims that he demonstrates "true artistry." Option Magazine calls Walker "one of the finest new music clarinetists in the country." 

Marty Walker holds degrees from the California Institute of the Arts and the University of Redlands, with additional study at Michigan State University and the Vienna Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.