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The buzz is
growing about flute virtuoso Walter Bell and his all-star ensemble,
the Latin Jazz Unit. With his 9th CD release, "Live
in Sedona" Walter's fifth CD, "Standard" Room Only!, has solidified Walter's reputation as a gifted musician, composer, producer and bandleader. His mastery and dedication to the flute is exceptional; he plays all of them - from alto flute, to bass flute to piccolo. Bell is one of the few jazz musicians who plays the flute exclusively. For him, the flute is not a "second" instrument to playing a saxophone primarily - as is typically the case in a jazz context. Says Bell, "The flute is the closest instrument to the human voice. I can make the instrument laugh, cry, or dance. I want my music to always be accessible to people." This Philadelphia native has gigged with some of the legends in the jazz world: Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, George Benson, the Count Basie Orchestra, among others. He has headlined concerts and performed in popular nightclubs and supperclubs on the east coast of the United States, including Birdland and Five Spot in New York City; Zanzibar Blue, Blue Moon and Meiji-En in Philadephia; BET Jazz Supperclub and Twins Lounge in Washington, DC; and Belle Bistro in Richmond, Virginia. On the festival circuit, Walter Bell and L.J.U. have performed at the Mellon Jazz Festival, Cape May Jazz Festival, Capital City Jazz Festival, Peco Energy Jazz Festival, NAACP Jazz Fest, San Jose Jazz Festival, and the East Coast Jazz Festival. In addition, he and his ensemble have appeared at many colleges, and have been featured on the acclaimed cable television program "BET Jazz Central." Bell, who now commutes between Philadephia and Richmond, Virginia, grew up in a musical household, where, he says, "the piano was like another piece of funiture." As the son of a nighclub owner in Philadelphia, Bell grew up watching and listening to legends like Jimmy Smith, Arthur Prysock and Sarah Vaughan. This first-hand exposure to the music, performance and professionalism of such artists made an indelible impression on Bell. Bell first picked up the flute as an 11-year-old, and he prides himself on being self-taught. He has an exceptional ear and grasp of musical styles - blues, bop, swing, standards, and the strong, rich percussive sounds from Latin cultures in his neighborhood and around the world. Bell plays with uncompromising precision without getting trapped in sterile technique. Some of his main influences are Yusef Lateef, Hubert Laws and Herbie Mann, who inspired Bell to return to his flute playing after he had taken an extended hiatus to raise his daughter. While paying props to his musical mentors, Bell has avoided mimicry. He has evolved his own style, his own distinctive voice on the flute, his own interpretation of jazz classics. Bell's group weaves bossa nova, samba, cha-cha and Afro-Cuban themes into his impressive repetroire of standards and orginal compositions. Reviews of Bell's recordings rave about his presence on the contemporary jazz scene. According to the venerable Jazz Times, "While most contemporary flutists gravitate towards either drippy melodrama or cold technical play, Bell mines the middle ground, playing with great speed and detail, while refusing to compromise emotion." Bell, who is an avid supporter of jazz radio and a prolific fund-raiser for public radio, has been featured on National Public Radio programs hosted by legendary jazz singer Jon Hendricks and NAACP leader Julian Bond. His music has even been played in a McDonald¹s commercial! Bell also has a strong commitment to charities that benefit youth and less privileged people. He has headlined events for the Virginia Special Olympics and the NAACP's college scholarship and education program. Bell says, "I'm blessed to have musical talent, so when opportunities permit me to use this gift to help others pursue their dreams or live in dignity, I try to respond." As a recording artist, Bell is proud of several "firsts." He is the only musician who has written and copyrighted a song for Mother's Day. But Bell, who has numerous original compositions to his credit, says the song entitled "Mother's Day" is special because it can be played all the time, "whether it's Saturday or the Fourth of July." Bell also has the honor of being the only musician ever to make a "live" recording in the Pennsylvania Convention Center [downtown Philly]. The historic occasion is captured on "An Evening With Walter Bell" (Reika Records). The recording showcases not only Bell's formidable stage presence but also his natural ability to connect with his audience. He banters and informs, plays requested songs and bridges the musical divide that can separate performers from patrons. Walter Bell's independently produced CD's sell-out almost as soon as they are issued. His fan base is both international and growing with each new recording - from the U.S. to Japan to Australia. Walter Bell's discography includes: "The Walter Bell Companion Vol 2." (2006 Reika Records); "Live in Sedona" (2005, Reika Records); Success Leaves its Clues (2004, Reika Records);Walter Bell Companion vol.1 (2003, Reika Records); "IN THREE PLACES AT ONCE" (2001, Reika Records);"Standard" Room Only! (2000, Reika Records); An Evening With Walter Bell (1999, Reika Records); The Pleasure's All Mine (1998, Reika Records); Blue Smoke (1997, Reika Records); Ever So Gently (1996, Reika Records). Walter Bell's performance schedule is available on his web site.
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