David Hazeltine

David Hazeltine (pianist) was born in Milwaukee on October 27, 1958, and grew up on Martin Drive. His mother, a singer and guitarist, performed on a daily noontime television show during David's childhood. At age seven, his parents bought him an organ, and he began taking lessons. His interest in jazz developed after hearing his older brother’s record collection, and by age 12, he started studying with the jazz organist Will Green, who had a studio at North Seventeenth Street and West Atkinson Avenue. Despite being blind, Green also ran an electronics repair business.

As a teenager, David worked at the Brother’s Lounge (later the Jazz Oasis) at 2379 North Holton Street, performing with guitarist Charles Small, club owner Lee Foster on drums, and often Brian Lynch on trumpet. After switching to piano, he performed with local musicians like Manty Ellis and Berkeley Fudge. After high school, he enrolled in the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music college program. During the late 1970s and early ’80s, David performed at the Jazz Gallery with many stars passing through town, including Pepper Adams, Chet Baker, Eddie Harris, Charles McPherson, and Sonny Stitt. After three years at the Conservatory, he left to work six nights a week at the Sheraton Mayfair with vocalist Penny Goodwin for a year. On the recommendation of bassist Skip Crumby Bey, David joined Jon Hendricks' NYC-based group, which included Skip on bass and a young Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. David toured with the group and played piano on the Jon Hendricks & Company album Love, recorded in early 1982.

He remained in New York, working with Junior Cook and others, before returning to Milwaukee in 1983. Back home, he performed and co-founded a jazz program called the Jazz School at the Jazz Gallery with bassist Scott Black. From 1984 to 1992, David taught at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and had a steady duo gig at Chip and Py’s in Walker’s Point, often with bassist Gerald Cannon, later leading a trio at Nance’s. David had a huge presence on the Milwaukee scene and taught and influenced nearly all the players coming up during that time. In 1992, David returned to New York, where he has been based ever since. He has recorded prolifically as a leader and sideman, collaborating with major artists such as Marlena Shaw, Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, and the group One for All.

Listen to David perform his composition “Perambulation” with Peter Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums, recorded May 28, 2005.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx8d-qGuXA4

More information can be found at: https://www.davidhazeltine.com/