Wally Schnalle's Idiot Fish Septet

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.