David Hazeltine

Jazz pianist David Hazeltine entered the world in Milwaukee, where he grew up and first performed professionally at age 13 before logging many engagements across both Chicago and Minneapolis. As house pianist at the Milwaukee Jazz Gallery he accompanied such figures as Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, and Chet Baker, the last of whom urged him to advance his prospects by moving to New York City. After arriving in 1992, Hazeltine assembled his own trio with drummer Louis Hayes and bassist Peter Washington, assumed musical-director duties for Marlena Shaw, and appeared with both Slide Hampton’s Jazz Masters Big Band and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. He and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander also co-led the ensemble One for All. His first recording as a leader, Four Flights Up, appeared in 1995; The Classic Trio followed in 1997. How It Is surfaced in 1998, The World for Her the next year, and Blues Quarters, Vol. 1 in August 2000.