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My crime, in the eyes of my friend, was my description of Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture as “probably the one work of music that I admire above all others, and is by the one composer that I admire above all others,” to which I added that “this soaringly impassioned tour de force transports me out of myself into somewhere better.” All was fine, so it seemed, until I revealed, or perhaps confessed, that my favourite composer, whose work I admired above all others, was none other than Richard Wagner, the mercurial and some would say mad genius who seems to be the bête noire of many Christian music lovers. My friend had no problem with my waxing enthusiastic about Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A Major or Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony nor, for that matter, did he question my praise of Vaughan Williams, or my admiration for the romantic patriotism of Sibelius or Smetana, or the minimalism of Arvo Pärt. The essay praised the music of Tallis, Byrd, Verdi, Fauré, Allegri, Schubert, and Bach, and ranged in scope from anonymous songs from fourteenth-century Catalonia to modern film scores by Richard Einhorn and Howard Shore. The above-quoted words were written to me by a friend after he had read an essay of mine in the Imaginative Conservative in which I listed some of my favourite works of classical music. But Wagner, your favorite composer! Say it ain’t so, Joe! Yet should we condemn his music for this reason? EVEN THERE (Semaphone 70022): An unusual collection of hymns, featuring the warmth and soulfulness of vocalist Sue Nixon produced and arranged by Wagner for piano, string quartet, African drums and guitar.Richard Wagner’s legacy has been overshadowed, and some would say permanently marred, by the manner in which he became the poster child of Hitler’s grotesque Third Reich.THE MIRACLE – FOR PIANO & ORCHESTRA/ RHYTHMS – FOR PIANO, WINDS & PERCUSSION (Semaphone 79312), with Wagner as composer/soloist and Gerard Schwarz conducting The Seattle Symphony Orchestra.PEARLS, VOLUME 1 (Semaphone 79313): A solo piano collection of well-loved jazz tunes, displaying Walt’s expansive blend of improvisation and lyrical flow.A Christmas collection of European and American traditional carols. A powerful interpretation of Vangelis’ beloved theme. CHARIOTS OF FIRE (Semaphone 79315 CD single): Solo piano.Interpretations of the lyrical, bluesy, mysterious music of DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, THE WALL, and THE DIVISION BELL. IN THE PINK - Music of Pink Floyd (Semaphone 79316): Solo piano.The finale concert after 20 years piano distillations of the music of Band Of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Buzzcocks, Phoenix, Prince, My Bloody Valentine, DJ Shadow, The Left Banke and Goat. REWORKS – LIVE AT CANLIS (Sub Pop SP1193): Solo piano.Total energy - a cutting-edge version of the classic piano/bass/drums trio, with four Walt Wagner jazz originals and a hypnotic cover of a DJ Shadow tune. TRAJECTORY (Semaphone 79317 EP): The Walt Wagner Trio with Walt Wagner, piano Dan Dean, electric bass Ben Smith, drums.A moment of peace during a crazy, unpeaceful time. Beloved spirituals, hymns, and three Walt originals, contemplative and improvisational. THE COMFORTER (Semaphone 79318): Solo piano.COMPOSINGĬommissions include: Fanfare, for Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra (conductor, Adam Stern) Rhythms – for Piano, Winds & Percussion, for Washington Wind Symphony (pianist, Walt Wagner conductor, Gene Aitken) and a recording with Seattle Symphony Orchestra (see Recordings, below) The Miracle – Concerto for Piano & Orchestra, for a recording with Seattle Symphony Orchestra (pianist, Walt Wagner conductor, Gerard Schwarz). Wagner’s guest appearances include The Tonight Show, Merv Griffin, and an Andy Williams & Peggy Fleming special at Madison Square Garden. Recently, The Walt Wagner Trio performed to packed houses at renowned Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley. Concluding a 20-year engagement at Seattle’s famed Canlis, Walt played a concert finale which was live-streamed internationally.
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He was featured for two years at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at University of Idaho. He toured internationally with Peggy Fleming in “A Concert On Ice”, and has performed extensively at Sun Valley, Idaho. Walt Wagner has performed with Jay Leno, Bob Hope, George Burns, Lily Tomlin, Roberta Flack, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Newhart, and as pianist- conductor with Peggy Lee.