THE DAVID WHEATLEY BAND

David Wheatley, Piano/Band Leader

Being a musician of many disciplines, David Wheatley formed a jazz band in 2023. David, keyboardist and band leader, has been improvising on piano since he was a teenager at John F Ross CVI High School in Guelph, Ontario Canada. Upon moving to Toronto, he played with the Glenn Sarty Big Band which rehearsed at the CBC Studios. He also played with the Greg Waters rehearsal band. His own jazz combo rehearsed on Monday nights in the recreation room at Margaret Addison Hall at the University of Toronto. After one year of attending Victoria College, a part of the University, he headed south to the University of North Texas (formerly North Texas State University). He played piano in the renowned lab band program while at the same time studying jazz piano with Jim Milne. While there, he also wrote arrangements for the lab bands. Upon graduating from North Texas, he traveled west to Los Angeles and enrolled at USC playing piano in the jazz band and writing compositions for the band. David played in the USC Jazz Ensemble at a special event under jazz great, Gerald Wilson at Bovard Auditorium. Separately, he has recorded with vibraphonist Milt Jackson and bassist Ray Brown. After starting his own record company, Freshwater Records, he composed, played on and produced an album of contemporary jazz music featuring well known Los Angeles session musicians Gary Herbig, Dennis Belfield, William Lenihan and Mike Miller among others. In October 2022, David traveled back to the University of North Texas for a jazz department reunion and performed in an alumni lab band concert with Lou Marini (Blood, Sweat and Tears, Blues Brothers), guitarist Jack Peterson and bandleader Mark Taylor. The David Wheatley Band was featured at the 2023 First Annual Jazz Festival sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund and Local 47 AFM which was held at the Burbank, California location. The band in 2023 included Phillip Whack on alto sax, Ron Stout on trumpet, bassist Larry Steen and drummer Dave Hunt, with Wheatley on piano and carrying out the emcee duties. The David Wheatley Band also performed at Jazz in July 2024, an annual outdoors live music event presented by First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills, California. The band included Randall Willis on alto sax, Jeff Kaye on trumpet, Adrian Rosen on electric bass and Dave Hunt on drums with Wheatley on keyboards. The band was invited to return to the Jazz in July Festival in 2025, with Jack Daro on electric bass. Another appearance by the band was at the Alhambra Performing Arts Center in Alhambra, California in September 2025, with Adrian Rosen on electric bass. Return engagement at Jazz in July in Granada Hills, California scheduled for July 18, 2026.

Randall Willis, Alto Saxophone

Saxophonist, performer, composer, producer, consultant, music educator and owner of Reidell Records, Randall Willis has been involved in Jazz, R & B, Hip Hop and several other genres of music for a little over four decades. Jazz saxophone greats Charles Owens, Ricky Woodard, and Louis van Taylor and others call on Randall to sub in saxophone sections and for gigs. Randall’s break into the jazz world came when he joined the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, thus began his wonderful musical journey of performance, teaching, composition, producing, and sideman with a host of bands and artists. Here are just a few: Baritone sax with Trombonist Jimmy Cleveland’s Ensemble; co-led the critically acclaimed B Sharp Jazz Quartet; Ray Charles; The Temptations and the Four Tops; recently Christian McBride; David Cherry’s Music for Improvisors Ensemble; The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited directed by legendary guitarist Kenny Burrell with Dr. Bobby Rodriguez and Charlie Harris (UCLA); The Peter Myers Orchestra; Billy Vera and The Beaters; Writing for Freestyle Fellowship; Bus Driver; and the Underground Railroad. In addition, Randall taught band at the infamous Thomas Jefferson High School in L.A. Randall is currently preparing for performances from his soon to be released Bluesesque recording and Saxplorations of the Funky Side recording.

Jeff Kaye, Trumpet

Jeff Kaye played in the Ray Charles Orchestra for 19 years.  Jeff has worked with jazz greats Lionel Hampton, The Clifford Jordon Big Band, Junior Cook, Diane Schuur, Bill Perkins, and Pete Christlieb.  Jeff played on the soundtrack of the movie “Ray” and has performed with the bands of Buddy Childers, Anthony Wilson, Bill Holman and Steve Huffsteter.

Adrian Rosen, Electric Bass

Adrian Rosen is an in-demand bass player in the Los Angeles area among other regions. He has demonstrated his considerable talent and skill on upright and electric bass, appearing with many jazz bands, large and small. Adrian has toured with Jack Jones, Mel Torme, Eagles and Stevie Wonder.

Dave Hunt, Drums

A native of Galveston, Texas, Dave Hunt has Southern familial musical roots in the New Orleans area and brings that voodoo to the creative experience. Dave majored in music at the University of North Texas and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music career and since moving to Los Angeles, he has performed with the following artists: Lola Falana, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ann Jillian, Kal David, Lainie Kazan, Rick James, Johnny Rivers, Robbin Ford, Rick Braun, Paul Young, Kenny James, John Hammond, Randy Jackson, Lyle Mays, Mark Johnson, Lou Pardini, Sam Riney, Chris Paige, Tommy Newsom and Billy Vera. Dave’s house gigs include Houston Music Theater - Major Acts; Cody’s, Houston, TX - Paul English - Kirk Whalum; Baked Potato, Los Angeles - Don Randi; China Club, Los Angeles - Kal David; Monty’s Westwood, CA - Phase Three. Dave’s Discography: Dallas Jazz Orchestra –Tuesday the Fifteenth; Don Randi – If It’s All Night It’s Alright; Kal David-Never a Dull Moment; Tommy Newsom-Friendly Fire; Armando Compean- Texas Brown Soul Zone; Elaine Webster-Let Me Love You; The Bruce Brothers Band- Little Hound Blues; Krystina Morgainne-Spellbound; Sam Riney-Rhonda Giannelli Quartet; Rick Jarrett-Kickin’It.