Ken Walker, a celebrated jazz bassist from Denver, Colorado, is renowned for his deep groove, refined musicality, and decades-long influence on the city’s jazz scene. Originally from Arkansas, he began on cello, switched to tuba, and eventually found his voice on the bass at Arkansas Tech University. After moving to Denver in 1985, he became the house bassist at the iconic El Chapultepec from 1987 to 1999, performing with legends like Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Harris, and Joe Pass. Walker leads the acclaimed Ken Walker Sextet, whose debut album Terra Firma earned national praise and charted for 17 weeks on JazzWeek. A dedicated educator, he has been on faculty at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music since 1991, mentoring generations of musicians. Honored with inductions into both the Colorado and Arkansas Jazz Halls of Fame, and recognized with a lifetime achievement award by Denver Arts & Venues, Walker continues to perform regularly at top venues like Dazzle, the Muse and major festivals across the region.