Saxophonist Walter Blanding grew up playing music professionally with his parents, and since then his talent and artistry has taken him around the world. Now, he brings his dedication to jazz teaching to MSU.
Jazz saxophonist Walter Blanding has led a vibrant career centered in New York with years spent in Israel and Shanghai, but his next act brings him to East Lansing, Michigan as the newest member of the Michigan State University Jazz Studies faculty.
Blanding begins his new role as assistant professor of jazz saxophone this fall, and he is eager to begin work with the talented MSU students. It is also a reunion of sorts with University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of MSU Jazz Studies Rodney Whitaker.
“I’ve known Rodney Whitaker for more than 32 years. I first met him with Roy Hargrove many years ago, and since then we have traveled the world together with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra,” Blanding said. “Rodney is also on my first album, The Olive Tree. He is an incredible human being, a great artist, and a family man like me. My joining the team at MSU means quite a lot to me, considering the many years we have played together.”
A collaborator and friend of MSU Jazz Studies Director Rodney Whitaker for over 30 years, Walter Blanding has spent a large part of his career performing with the top names in jazz, including Wynton Marsalis.
Following the departure of Diego Rivera who took over the directorship of the jazz program at the University of Texas at Austin, MSU’s jazz program sought out Blanding knowing that his three decades as a music educator, performing artist, and composer would continue and grow the positive work with MSU jazz students previously established.
“Walter Blanding is an amazing virtuoso of the saxophone,” Whitaker said. “His wealth of knowledge, experience, and intelligence will help to challenge, excite, and engage our students. We are looking forward to bringing him to our faculty and the Michigan State University community.”
Blanding began performing with his parents at the age of 10, and they were performing regularly as the Blanding Family Trio Village Gate in New York City by the time he reached his teens. He describes the experience as “rich” in many ways.
“It initially taught me how to use my creativity, especially since the music we performed was based on improvisation,” Blanding explained. “This also led to developing a sense of harmony and theory, which is an important aspect of successful musical expression in a group setting.”
A longtime member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Walter Blanding was once featured on their banner outside of the building in New York.
Since then, Blanding has worked with some of the best artists of the past several decades. His long list of credits include recording projects and performances with everyone from Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin to Willie Nelson and Diana Ross, Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter to Cab Calloway and Branford Marsalis, Tony Bennet and Roy Hargrove to the Count Basie Orchestra and the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, Illinois Jacquet Big Band and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to classical giants such as the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and more.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, but working mostly in New York, Blanding branched out and lived in Israel for four years. He toured the country with his ensemble, invited artists from the United States to join him, taught music in Israeli schools, and even opened a private school in Tel Aviv. In addition, he served as the Jazz Ambassador in Shanghai, China, for Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai from 2018 to 2020.
“Over the past few decades, working with people of all ages and cultures worldwide has led to my discovery of just how much I not only love learning but how I also have a great passion for sharing my musical knowledge with others,” he said. “My experience in Israel and Shanghai helped me to understand how to be the glue that bonds people together from different cultures around the world. Through music, exploring the beauty of our differences as well as the things we have in common is important. This is a great part of what I intend to share at MSU.”
Walter Blanding has worked with many people and cultures, including four years in Israel and two in Shanghai, China.
Blanding describes his teaching style as “an infinite continuous cycle based on a handful of simple concepts that can be easily understood by people from all walks of life, and all levels of proficiency.” When teaching, he said, he most enjoys seeing students enjoy themselves and improve.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to further help make a difference in the lives of the students and community at MSU through this wonderful music,” Blanding said.
And the MSU Music community is grateful to welcome him.
