The Nancy Walker Quartet (Night 2 of 2)

Tara Davidson – saxophones
Nancy Walker – piano
Lauren Falls – bass
Ethan Ardelli – drums

COVER: $20

Pianist and composer Nancy Walker has been recognized with honours Canadawide, including the Montréal Jazz Festival’s Grand Prix de Jazz, the National Jazz
Awards Keyboardist Of The Year Award, two JUNO nominations (2006 and 2026),
and an induction into the Mississauga Music Walk Of Fame. A dynamic improviser,
an artful composer and a responsive accompanist, Nancy has been praised both
for her work as a solo artist and as a musical collaborator. As a side player she can
be heard on a wide range of recordings, by artists from saxophonist Kirk
MacDonald to vocalist Emilie-Claire Barlow to children’s entertainer Raffi. More
recently she can be heard on the 2024 recording Here’s To Life by John Neudorf
(on which she was both pianist and co-producer), and Sarah Jerrom’s 2025 JUNO nominated Magpie.
Nancy has several discs to her credit as leader. Her most recent, Deeper Down, is a
2026 JUNO nominee in the category Jazz Album Of The Year (Solo). Deeper Down
features Nancy as pianist and sole composer, with Tara Davidson (saxophones),
Lauren Falls (bass) and Ethan Ardelli (drums). Her compositions reflect her view of
the age we live in – at times intense, at times poignant, at times cerebral. Her
inspirations include architecture, cinema, literature, visual art and nature.
“Nancy Walker has played enough piano to know how to keep listeners interested
however hard she pushes the boundaries of familiarity.” Toronto Star
“Harmonically she’s influenced by the usual suspects—Evans, Hancock, Jarrett, etc.
—but her delicate touch and denser harmonic constructs brings to mind British
pianist John Taylor as well…Walker’s music is easy on the ears, but don’t mistake
that for lacking in interest or challenge, because she masks an advanced harmonic
concept within an accessible veneer.” All About Jazz
“A fine example of the modern jazz musician’s art.” The Globe and Mail
Visit Nancy’s website at www.nancywalkermusic.com