David Hazeltine

Who is David Hazeltine?

David Hazeltine is an American jazz pianist.

Today a major pianist in the New York and Japan scenes, David Hazeltine has been playing gigs since he was thirteen. He did not seriously consider going into music until right before college. Once he entered into the jazz world he was encouraged by Chet Baker who told him to go to New York. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he studied music with local pianist Will Green, worked as the house pianist for national acts at the former Jazz Gallery, and helped to retool the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music's jazz program, Hazeltine has been living in New York for several decades. Although he returned to Milwaukee briefly because of domestic issues, he considered the town constraining and not a good place to make his career. He has played and recorded with Jon Hendricks, Louis Hayes, and One for All and done composing and arranging as well as teaching. Although he is a pianist he feels more influenced by saxophonists, particularly Charlie Parker.