Quentin Walston is a pianist, composer, and educator from the Washington DC area whose work bridges the legacy of jazz's greatest musicians with contemporary performance. He leads the Quentin Walston Trio and performs solo, blending memorable melodies, striking rhythms, and adventurous improvisations. His original music, books, and educational content have been featured on NPR, PBS, podcasts, and reached millions on social media. Quentin Walston is a Maryland State Arts Council "Touring Artist" and Virginia Commission for the Arts “Teaching Artist”, and he brings passionate performance and scholarly insight to concert halls, listening rooms, and educational institutions nationwide.
In 2024, Walston released his trio album Retro Future, named for the space-age artwork of the 1950s. Drawing on everything from the playful dissonance of Thelonious Monk to the futuristic, “out” approach of The Bad Plus, the album features new compositions alongside favorites. It’s available now on vinyl, CD, or streaming.
Beyond the stage, Walston’s videos celebrating jazz and its history have been viewed millions of times. He has connected with jazz legends like Ron Carter, Christian McBride, and Aaron Parks, discussing their inspirations, methods, and practices. Walston’s content, like his concerts, fosters a deeper enjoyment of jazz by passionately connecting listeners with the forms and narratives behind the music.
In 2021, Quentin released "The Good Book Suite", composed entirely for his trio. Inspired by his faith, the suite covers a huge musical landscape. Wonderful builds and interplay between the trio are found in the biggest and boldest moments to the most quietly intimate passages.
In 2024 Quentin Walston founded This Is Jazz, a publisher dedicated to jazz appreciation and education. This Is Jazz shares jazz with both players and teachers through the two books written by Walston: "Jazz Piano Like a Pro" which helps pianists play jazz and improvise in an authentic way modeled after the legends of the genre, and "How to Teach Jazz & Improvisation" which helps teachers of all instruments and backgrounds bring jazz into lessons and classrooms across the country. All About Jazz writes that "Quentin Walston ... enables any teacher or student to bring the joy and creativity of jazz to life in the lesson or classroom.”
Click HERE for Quentin's PRESS KIT.
