Wally Schnalle has been skirting around the Bay Area jazz scene since he quit his Silicon Valley desk job in order to pursue a career playing drums back in 1984. Since then, the freewheeling percussionist has found himself headlining shows across California as well as landing on the bill for several festivals, including  the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, Monterey Jazz Festival, Hong Kong Jazz Festival, Beishan China Jazz Festival, Portland Jazz Festival and San Francisco’s Jazz in the City series. He has also used his skills as a sideman to Phil Woods, Ernie Watts, Eddie Daniels, Etienne Charles, Med Flory, Dave Pell, Bill Henderson, Mary Wilson, Ricky Woodard as well as many great Bay Area bands. In between concerts, Schnalle’s schedule resembles nothing of his cubicle impaired past life – in fact, it’s pretty much one giant drum-athon, playing and teaching lessons both privately and as and Adjunct Professor at California State University at East Bay. He is also the director of The San Jose Jazz Summer Jazz Camp for middle and high school students.

Wally has 11 CDs of original his compositions in release.The 4 most recent feature his tour de force fusion ensemble; Idiot Fish. He was also was also awarded a compositional commission from the Santa Clara University School of Music and Dance as well as an Artist In Residence Grant fro The California Arts Council.