Joshua Walker is a versatile guitarist and composer performing in many different groups including several of his own. As a guitarist, Joshua has been a member of groups that have opened concerts for Randy Brecker, Donny McCaslin, Charlie Byrd and the Washington Guitar Quintet, Pat LaBarbara, Joe LaBarbara, and The U.S. Army Jazz and Blues. Joshua has shared the stage with musical luminaries such as McCoy Tyner, Cecil Bridgewater, Bunky Green, Lonnie Plaxico, Marc Cary, Steve Williams, Joe Byrd, Alvestar Garnett, and pop star Jason Mraz. Joshua has also performed at many wellknown festivals, venues, and events in the United States, Canada, and Japan. A few of these include; The Montreal International Jazz Festival, The Toronto International Jazz Festival, The 2008 edition of the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, The 150th anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama in Japan, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Blues Alley in Washington D.C., The Upstairs in Montreal, and The Rex in Toronto. Joshua also completed four contracts aboard cruise ships as a musician, visiting fourteen different countries.
As a composer, Joshua’s music has been featured five times on the jazzguitar internet podcast entitled ‘No Idle Frets', as well as on numerous radio stations in the U.S. and Canada. Joshua's first album, ‘Inertia', features his original compositions performed by the quartet setting of guitar, saxophone, bass, and drums that he regularly performs in. The CD is available for purchase or download at http://cdbaby.com/cd/joshuawalker
Joshua’s compositions have also been performed and recorded by Howard University music ensembles.
Another of Joshua's projects, the Joshua Walker Trio, maintains an active performance schedule in the mid atlantic area. Joshua can also be heard in many venues in duo and solo settings, as well as in larger groups. Joshua earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and then received scholarships to spend a year studying at The Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. During this time, Joshua studied intensively with Paul Bollenback, Gary Thomas, Greg Osby, and Michael Formanek. After his first semester at Peabody, he was additionally awarded the Charlie Byrd Endowment for Guitar. He later returned to school and was awarded scholarships to complete his Master’s Degree in Music at Howard University, graduating in 2010.
Besides his busy performance schedule, Joshua is a guitar instructor at The Levine School of Music in Washington D.C., and at The Harmonia School of Music and Art in Oakton, Virginia. Joshua also plays mandolin, bouzouki, and tenor banjo.