Album Notes

The driving force behind Walter Earl Music is performer/producer/composer Walter Earl.

Earl began his career in Dallas, Texas, where he studied with some of the best jazz musicians around, including Kenny Kirkland, Claude Johnson and Ken Boome and in San Francisco with Si Perkoff and Mark Little. Earl performed with Paul Quigg, Big Phazz, J. "Diamond" Wright and Freddie Jones. Earl moved to San Francisco in 1996, ready to take the city by storm. Demand for him grew quickly as a studio maven, and he shared his talents with producers at Radical House, Bayview Productions, Frisco Studios and Tarpan Studios.

Producing his debut album "Fly" in 1997, it quickly became clear Walter was not just another studio musician. His sound was a welcome addition to a new genre of music, "Bay Area Cool," a seamless blend of jazz, hip hop and retro soul.

A year later, Earl produced his second album, "In the Middle of the Crowd," demonstrating even greater musical maturity. With this album Earl maintained the motion and unique spirit of "Fly," while drawing from classic jazz elements, hip hop and R&B. The result was refreshing and sophisticated.

Earl's sound attracted the notice of Grammy Award-winning producer Narada Michael Walden, Felton Pilat of ConFunkShun, Ritchie Havens, DJ Scott Hardkiss, DJ Rasoul and DJ Henry, all of whom invited him to work with them. Over the years, he has also collaborated with Ron K, Bernard Wright, Victor Blackman and Kenneth "K-Phlx" Manning.

Earl's third album, "The Walter Earl Group: Fillmore Connection," is an eclectic mix of smooth jazz and hip hop soul. Vocally, Earl brings to mind musical greats like Leroy Hutson and Joe Sample. His lyrics, written from the heart, are an emotional appeal for a better world. The song "Peace of Mind" is particularly soulful, speaking of a need we have all felt at some point. Whether you're looking for ambiance or inspiration, "Fillmore Connection" will take you there.

Earl's musical appetite is insatiable. He composed the soundtrack to an award-winning full-length feature film, "underdogs," in 1998. As a record producer, his name has appeared on a dozen albums from 1997 to 2006. Earl's group was featured in a live Webcast on the entertainment site Luminary.tv in 2006, performing standards and Earl's original compositions at Fantasy Studios.

Earl's current projects include collaborating with Victor Blackman and with Big Phazz, providing vocals and as coproducer on a single for the album "When the Smoke Clears." His sound, passion and talent have enhanced each new project. Give Earl a try, and let his groove move you.