About Jamie Walker

I have a passion for jazz bass but didn't discover it until later in my musical life. I started on saxophone and guitar then, aged 13, I bought my first bass guitar. Over 2 years I progressed to RockSchool grade 8 and got my first taste of improvisation and jazz harmony at the BYMT Jazz School run by Buster Birch.

The journey wasn't easy - at secondary school there was little music, and the school decided to stop GCSE music. I fought this and was allowed to study it in my own time, achieving an A*. For 6th form I moved to a school where my I could pursue my love for music and study it at A level and I'm as happy as I could ever be, playing in the many school bands.

I'm a multi-instrumentalist, but my main one is the bass. I started on Bass Guitar, moving to Double Bass as my main instrument. I play Bass in the NYJO U18s Ensemble led by Winston Clifford, this has focused me on harmonies, learning by ear, grooves, rhythmic work and improvisation and I feel extremely lucky to work with other young musicians and having the chance to play at amazing venues like Ronnie Scott's.

My jazz influences have grown, I love the simple but complex effectiveness of Ray Brown's bass lines, seeing Christian McBride live I was amazed by his speed and how he held an amazing feel. I love the melodic but effective lines of Esperanza Spalding. My interests have widened to others such as, Roy Hargrove, Oscar Peterson, Jesus Molina and The Marsalis Family. Outside of jazz I have a passion for funk and soul, seeing Tower of Power, Kool and the Gang, Trombone Shorty and The Average White Band play live.

I'm currently studying Jazz at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire, where I get the chance to play with a amazing range of musicians on a daily basis.