Vocalist and songwriter JD Walter is considered by many in the jazz world to be the among the very best jazz singers, known for his immediately recognizable smokey sound, his virtuosic talent for improvisation, his compelling original songs, and his ability to reinvent standards.
Listen to Without A Net Here
To mark the release of his new single from the upcoming album Without A Net, JD Walter shares a personal note about the song that started it all: “The chorus casts love as a high-wire act—a performance where each of us walks the tightrope, exposed and without a net to catch us. Beneath that narrative lies a deeper reflection on the human condition: our reluctance to face hard truths in our relationships, the fragile foundations we often build them on, and our tendency to repeat the same emotional missteps.”
He also reflects on how the album took shape: “During the pandemic, I reconnected with an old friend from college, David Pulkingham. With everything on hold, we figured it was a great time to do what we used to do, which was to sit down and write some music.” They spent three separate weeks writing in upstate New York. The first song that emerged? Without A Net. “It became the title track. The lyrics are about navigating relationships, stuff we carry, and being honest with ourselves, even when it’s uncomfortable”
JD and David Pulkingham were joined in the studio by a stellar lineup: James Genus on bass, Taylor Eigsti on piano, Obed Calvaire on drums.
Without A Net is out now on Arkadia Records and streaming everywhere.
A New Chapter Begins for JD Walter “Without A Net”
