Chris Walden

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Chris Walden (born October 10, 1966 in Hamburg ) is a German jazz musician , composer and arranger .

life and work

Chris Walden comes from a family of musicians and learned to play the trumpet and piano at an early age. He began arranging big band music when he was still at school . In 1988 he belonged to the founding generation of the Federal Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Peter Herbolzheimer , who also supported him in the following years.

Walden studied conducting and arrangement in Cologne and graduated in 1994. After that he conducted the RIAS Big Band, among others . He began arranging film music, first as Herbolzheimer's assistant and arranger for the film Schtonk , and later as the sole composer, mainly for German TV series.

In 1996 Walden emigrated to Los Angeles to devote more time to film composition for cinema productions. In 1999 he founded his own big band. As an arranger and composer he has a. a. worked for David Foster , Paul Anka , Barbra Streisand , Michael Bolton and Sheryl Crow .

Walden is married and has two children. He lives in Los Angeles with his family.

Film music (selection)

Other compositions - choice

  • 2007: Kurt Marti Suite , composed for big band and choir ( Origin )
  • 2008: Symphony No. 1 - The Four Elements

Works on CD - selection

  • Chris Walden Big Band and Choir St. Johannis Harvestehude: Kurt Marti Suite (Origin) 2007.
  • Chris Walden Big Band: Winter Games (Origin) 2006.
  • Chris Walden Big Band: No Bounds (Origin) 2006.
  • Michael Bolton: Bolton Swings Sinatra , Walden was arranger and orchestra conductor (Concord) for this recording in 2006
  • Chris Walden Big Band: Home of My Heart (Origin) 2005.
  • Chris Walden: Ticino (ACT) 1996

Honors

  • 2009 Two nominations for the Grammy in the categories Best Classical Contemporary Composition and Best Orchestral Performance for the album Symphony No.1 - The Four Elements
  • 2006 Two nominations for the Grammy in the categories Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for the album Home of My Heart and Best Instrumental Arrangement for Cherokee from the same album
  • 1998 Ernst Fischer Prize, which is awarded every two years by the GEMA Foundation and Deutschlandradio

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Walden, Chris
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German composer, jazz musician and arranger
DATE OF BIRTH October 10, 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH Hamburg