Walter Strauss | A many-layered, multi-textured, one-man folk festival.

Listen

Walter's recordings include productions with a diverse cast of musicians and a solo album of songs featuring his unique guitar style and music from global instruments translated to the acoustic guitar. Visit to browse, listen, and purchase.

Bio

Walter Strauss digs deep grooves for his audiences - his singular guitar style layers on highly articulated melodies and harmonies, rhythms and counter-rhythms, giving the impression he is magically playing several instruments at once.

Mali 2012

Walter has returned from Mali, West Africa where he studied with kora maestro Toumani Diabate, and collaborated with musicians in the capital Bamako as well as in villages and towns around the country. Learn more about his trip and view photos.

Recent Press

Acoustic Magazine featured an interview with Walter in its May 2012 issue. The article, by Teja Gerken, is about Walter's playing of West African stringed music on the guitar and includes an interview, instructional videos and musical tablature.

Mamajowali

They're Mamajowali. Guitar, hunter's harp, percussion, fiddle, canjoe, mandolin, kickboard, vocals, jawbone of an ass. Something for everyone.

"A many-layered, multi-textured, one-man folk festival."

Maverick Magazine

Blog

From West Africa to Australia to Scotland, Walter Strauss weaves seemingly disparate musical strands and disciplines into a seamless whole. 2012 promises to be replete with new and innovative musical adventures. Check in to the Blog page to stay up to date on Walter’s travels, projects, and collaborations with a stellar cast of musicians from around the world.

Mali 2012

In February and March, I traveled to Mali to delve deeper into West African music, right in the heart of it. Grammy-winning kora player Toumani Diabate (famous in the west for his collaborations with Ali Farke Toure, Taj Mahal, Bjork) invited me to study with him in Bamako, the capital, and to connect with Malian musicians there.

Video

Videos of Walter performing solo and in collaboration with others. Selections currently include Soutoukou (a song for the W. African kora) – 2 videos of the trio Mamajowali featuring Walter, Joe Craven and Mamadou Sidibe – The Buffalo Song – Dokea (with Malian kamal’ngoni player Mamadou Sidibe) – The Beast (with bassist Sam Bevan) – Spring Song – Ishi - Bruno’s Revenge (with Stevie Coyle).