Wally Schnalle's Idiot Fish Septet delivers electrifying fusion music blending traditional elements with fresh compositions. Drawing inspiration from Miles Davis and Weather Report, the project has toured extensively across the United States and Asia since debuting at the 2010 San Jose Jazz Summer Fest with an all-star West Coast lineup.

With performances in Singapore, Hong Kong and China, the project performs Schnalle's original compositions that push boundaries while remaining accessible and exhilarating. The septet boasts Paul Hanson on bassoon, known for groundbreaking work with Béla Fleck, Jon Batiste and Wayne Shorter; Frank Martin on keys, a veteran collaborator with John McLaughlin, Stevie Wonder and Dizzy Gillespie; Charles McNeal on saxophone, whose credits include the Lyle Lovett Large Band and The Headhunters; Joel Behrman on trumpet, who has performed alongside Chris Potter, Boz Scaggs and Sheila E.; Brian Sheu on guitar, celebrated for blending soulful blues and rock, with bebop phrasing; and Aaron Germain on bass, whose resume includes Yusef Lateef, Stanley Jordan and Bonnie Raitt.

Bay Area-based Schnalle leads on drums, delivering his signature rhythmic drive and compositional vision. His career spans decades of innovation in the jazz scene, releasing multiple albums under the Idiot Fish banner including Idiot Fish (2014) and Out of the Pan (2010), praised by DownBeat and JazzTimes for their inventive grooves and melodic depth.

We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Idiot Fish with a first time ever Septet performance! It’s been 9 months since our last show and 8 months since Wally’s shoulder surgery, but we’re more excited than ever to bring you some of the best players on the West Coast. Featuring Paul Hanson-Bassoon (Bela Fleck, Jon Baptiste, Billy Cobham, Wayne Shorter), Frank Martin-Keys (John McLaughlin, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Dizzy Gillespie), Charles McNeal-Sax (Lyle Lovett Large Band, The Headhunters w/Mike Clark and Bill Summers, Boz Scaggs, Fred Wesley), Joel Beheman (Chris Potter, Phillip Phillips, Boz Scaggs, Sheila E), Brian Sheu-Guitar (a sought-after guitarist known for blending soulful blues and rock with the bebop language), and Dan Robbins (a bassist who freelances as a performer, composer, and arranger in studios and venues across the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond), this Idiot Fish Septet performance promises to be special and rare. And of course, Wally Schnalle-Drums will be on the drums, bringing his signature style to the show. We can’t wait to see you all there! ALSO!! Raze the Maze Raze The Maze is the Bay Area–born progressive rock band from musical stalwarts Tarik Ragab and Moorea Dickason, who previously co-founded the Magna Carta Records band MoeTar. Their latest project expands into bold new territory with the electrifying sounds of world-renowned electric bassoonist Paul Hanson, featured on their collaborative album Calliope. This band seeks to raze the fear-based, corporate-driven, patriarchal mentality in our culture and raise in its place radical creativity, deep connection, and true expression.

A very special and rare Idiot Fish Quintet performance featuring some of the best players on the west coast. Paul Hanson-Bassoon (Bela Fleck, Jon Baptiste, Billy Cobham, Wayne Shorter) Frank Martin-Keys (John McLaughlin, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarred, Dizzy Gillespie) Hristo Vitchev-Guitar (nine critically-acclaimed albums as a leader) Aaron Germain-Bass (Stanley Jordan, Randy Brecker, Paul McCandless, Nguyen Le, Bonnie Raitt) And Wally Schnalle-Drums

It was March 13 2020…the night before the world shut down. Idiot Fished played what we thought could have been our last gig. But what a way to go out…playing with amazing musicians at Art Boutiki in San Jose. ( thankfully that gig was recorded and you can hear it by streaming “Idiot Fish Live at Art Boutiki” on any streaming service)

Happily the world is open for business again and I get to return to Art Boutiki with these amazing musicians February 24th. We will be playing some of our favorites from the Idiot Fish book as well as debuting some new material. I will also be debuting some new tech attached to my drums allowing more expressive interactions with electronics.

Please join us for this special evening.

Idiot Fish features Wally Schnalle - Drums Paul Hanson - Bassoon Hristo Vitchev - Guitar Dan Robbins - Bass

Opening the night will be Scratchy Fish Drums - Mike Fullerton Guitar - Mike Mckenna Bass - Billy Edwards Saxophone - Steve Sinclair Saxophone - Anton Ross

$25 in advance, $30 at the door. Mixed seated and standing room All Ages

Get your tickets in advance and save some $

https://app.gopassage.com/events/ifish-24-1?iframe=true&modal=true&prev=/users/33500921/events

The Idiot Fish Trio swims again with myself, Hristo Vitchev and dan Robbins. All Ages, No Cover, Good Food, Good Libations and GOOD MUSIC!

Idiot Fish 4tet starts the year off with a performance at Mama Kin. We've been recording new music and are excited to share the new tunes live "pre-release" with you. ALL AGES

Wally Schnalle Drums Paul Hanson Bassoon Hristo Vitchev Guitar Dan Robbins Bass

Our last gig was 3/13/20 right before Covid shut down the world. I am so excited that we are finally back and playing at MAMA KIN (the now defunct Cafe Stritch) We'll be playing some old IDIOT FISH tunes as well as some new stuff I've composed. I hope to see you there!!! Paul Hanson - Bassoon Hristo Vitchev - Guitar Dan Robbins - Bass Wally Schnalle - Drums

9/20 Motion Blue Yokohama, Japan--- 9/22 2019 Hong Kong International Jazz Fest--- 9/24 DDC Club, Beijing, China--- 9/25 JZ Club Shanghai, China--- 9/27 JZ Club Gunangzhou, China--- 9/28 Sappho Live Taipai, Taiwan--- 9/29 Blue Note Taipei, Taiwan

Good bears and and music with me Hristo Vitchev and Dan Robbins

The SJZ Collective features some of the best South Bay jazz musicians playing arrangements by all the members. Currently they are performing classic material from Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus. Under the direction of Wally Schnalle they've became jazz ambassadors, representing our jazz community here and abroad.

Last year they played to over ten thousand people in Taiwan. This year they’ve been invited by Japan, China, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan to perform in September. And this concert at Art Bioutiki is a fund raising event to help pay for the myriad of expensing taking a sextet on the road. Please come out and support jazz, live music and spreading the word.

Wally Schnalle - Drums Hristo Vitchev - Guitar Brian Ho - Organ Saul Sierra - Bass John Worley Jr - Trumpet Oscar Pangalinon - Sax

End your Saturday at Summer Fest with us at Cafe Stritch!! Im really excited about this special band featuring the amazing Paul Hanson on Basson, Hristo Vitchev on guitar, Dan Robbins on bass and of course me on drums. These guys are all amazing musicians but I am really lucky to have Paul onboard for this. Lately he has been pretty busy on the road playing with drum virtuosos Billy Cobham so we are lucky to have him join us for this special jazz beyond midnight performance at SJZ Summer Fest. Here's a bit about Paul.... From his roots as an award-winning classical bassoonist and jazz saxophonist- Paul has sought to expand the lexicon of the bassoon while creating a unique musical voice. As a jazz/fusion bassoonist: Paul has recorded and/or performed with Billy Cobham's Crosswinds Project (whom Paul currently tours with) Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Wayne Shorter, Miguel Zenon, SF Jazz, Peter Erskine, with 6-string bassist in the group OoN, Billy Childs, Harmonica virtuoso Gregorie Maret, Billy Higgins, David Binney, Ray Charles, Charlie Hunter, Patrice Rushen, Alex Acuna, Dennis Chambers, Abraham Laboriel, Medeski Martin & Wood, Bob Weirʼs RATDOG, T. Lavitz from Dixie Dregs, Jeff Coffin, Jeff Sipe, Jonas Hellborg, Afro/Cuban pianist Omar Sosa, Bob Moses, Kai Eckhardt, Peter Apfelbaum and the Hieroglyphics Ensemble, The Paul Dresher Ensemble, DAVKA, St. Joseph Ballet Company, The Klezmorim, as jazz soloist with the Oakland Eastbay Symphony Orchestra, as classical soloist with the Napa Symphony Orchestra (non-improvising) and many more. As a sax player-Paul has recorded and/or performed with Eddie Money (tenor sax soloist on the 1985 hit song “Take Me Home Tonight”), Boz Scaggs, The Temptations, Tower of Power, Steve Smith, Tom Coster, Randy Jackson, What It Is, Omar Sosa, dobroist Rob Ickes, sessions for Lucas Arts Electronic Games, Sony Music and many more. In 2008 Paul was invited to create his own role as electric improvising bassoonist in Cirque Du Soleilʼs ZED-a resident show at Tokyo Disney Resort. This unique creation performed 380 shows a year from 2008-2011. Rarely if ever has the bassoon been utilized in such a fashion-to this day Cirque Du Soleil auditions bassoonists for the sole purpose of appearing on ZED in a role Paul helped develop and create. Paul has traveled throughout Europe, Japan and the States. He has appeared as a bassoonist at Carnegie Hall, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Berlin Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, the Ravinia Festival, the Leverkuzen Festival, the INTERLINK festival in Japan, the California Edge Festival 2005 and at the 1999 NAMM show in Nashville. Paul Hanson appears on Bela Fleck and the Flecktones album OUTBOUND which won a Grammy for best contemporary jazz recording of 2000. Paul has a BM in Bassoon Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.