Gary Walters, jazz and popular piano

Gary Walters holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Ball State University and a Master of Music in Composition from Butler University.

He is an adjunct faculty member of Butler University’s School of Music in Indianapolis Indiana, where he has taught applied jazz piano since 2000. Gary developed and implemented an introductory jazz piano course for non-majors beginning in 2002. In 2006 he was appointed director of Jazz Band II. He also teaches a section of Music Theory for Media Arts, part of the Media Arts degree requirement.

Gary has always maintained an active performing career, working in a variety of musical genres, with his first love being jazz. At present he tours with Rounder Records recording artist Carrie Newcomer, a consummate songwriter in the folk genre, with 11 albums of original music to her credit and an audience that spans both coasts of the United States. At home in Indianapolis, he works with the Icarus Ensemble, an eclectic 5 piece group made up of members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. They perform original material written by Gary and other members of the group in a unique presentation that references jazz, world music and classical. Gary is also in demand as a free-lance pianist, working with local artists including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Pops, Steven Stolen, Cathy Morris & Collage, Carter-Markiewicz Quartet, Charlie Smith Project, Time Out, Phil Allen Octet, small Talk Quintet, and Speakeasy. He has also performed with national recording artists including Alan Vizutti, The Capitol Quartet, Byron Stripling, Jeff Tyzik, Victor Krauss, Urbie Green, Bobby Shew, Bebe Neuwirth, Leslie Uggams, Anne Peckham, Broadway touring companies of Will Rogers Follies, Grease, West Side Story, touring Oldies acts Martha Reeves, The Marvelettes, The Crystals, The Coasters, Gary U.S. Bonds, the late Bobby Helms and Dell Reeves.

As a composer and arranger, he has written in most genres of music, including jazz, funk, Top 40, country, classical, new age, etc. Some of his writing is for commercial radio and television commercials in both local and regional markets. Other times it is work-for-hire in collaboration with a lyricist or songwriter in need of musical direction. Much of the jazz composing has appeared on recordings as a member of bands including Time Out, Cathy Morris, small Talk, the Carter-Markiewicz Quartet, and the Icarus Ensemble. For the last several years, Gary has focused on writing for various chamber ensembles including mallet percussion, string trio, unaccompanied cello, brass quintet, jazz combos and string orchestra. His “Mongrel No. 1” for solo piano, was premiered by Stephen Beus, winner of the 2006 American Pianist Association competition, held in Indianapolis every two years.

E-mail: gwalters@butler.edu

Learn more about jazz studies at Butler University (PDF).

Please visit the Piano at Butler web site to learn more about piano and keyboard studies at Butler University.