David Hazaltine is one of a handful of young pianists who has successfully forged his own distinctive style … Video

27.10. – Happy Birthday !!! David Hazaltine is one of a handful of young pianists who has successfully forged his own distinctive style and musical voice out of the accumulated greatness and weight of a modern piano tradition. David’s influences extend from Art Tatum and Bud Powell to such great living masters as Buddy Montgomery, Barry Harris and Cedar Walton.

David made his professional debut at age thirteen in Milwaukee, and later worked extensively in and around Chicago and Minneapolis. In Milwaukee, David served as house pianist at the famed Milwaukee Jazz Gallery, working with such greats as Charles McPherson, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, Pepper Adams and Chet Baker. In fact, it was Baker who encouraged David to make his mark in New York City.

Since moving to New York City in 1992, David has made a name for himself as a “musician’s musician.” In addition to his working trio (with drum legend Louis Hayes and bassist Peter Washington), David is in constant demand as a sideman. Recent credits include work with Freddie Hubbard, James Moody, the Faddis-Hampton-Heath Sextet, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Louis Hayes Quintet, and Marlena Shaw, for whom he serves as pianist, arranger, and musical director. Recently David was spotlighted on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” radio program. David is also a member of the band “One For All” which features rising tenor star Eric Alexander.

David¹s debut cd as a leader Four Flights Up (featuring Slide Hampton,) released in 1996 on the Sharp Nine Label, received high praise from critics and musicians alike. Since then, he has recorded five more cds for Sharp Nine, the latest being Manhattan Autumn featuring Eric Alexander. David has also recorded five cds for the Criss Cross label, the most recent being Close To You. In Japan, David’s four piano trio releases for the Venus label, tributes to Bill Evans (Waltz For Debby) and Horace Silver (Senor Blues), a collection of Hazeltine arrangements and originals (Pearls), and a compilation of jazz standards (Alice In Wonderland) have won him a large and growing following.

In addition to David’s fifteen dates as a leader, his recorded work as a featured sideman reflects his status as one of the first call pianists in New York. Recent efforts include sessions with James Moody, Freddy Cole, Marlena Shaw, Jon Faddis, and Louis Hayes.

As a dedicated teacher, Hazeltine’s career reflects his intense commitment to the advancement of jazz culture and awareness. In Milwaukee, he was co-founder and director of The Jazz School, and the Program Coordinator of Jazz Studies, and later Department Chairman at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Recently, he served as Associate Professor at Berklee College Of Music.