John Colianni

John Colianni (born 1966) is an American jazz pianist.

John Colianni
Background information
Born1966 (age 54–55)
Paterson, New Jersey
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsPiano
Years active1970s–present
LabelsConcord, Patuxent
Associated actsLionel Hampton, Mel Tormé, Les Paul
Websitejohncolianni.com

Early life

The son of Patricia Colaianni and journalist James F. Colaianni, John Colianni was born in Paterson, New Jersey on January 7, 1966 and grew up in Maryland.[1] Duke Ellington performed a concert in 1974 at Georgetown University.[1] Colianni was mesmerized by Ellington's piano work, orchestrations, and stage presence. Weekly lessons began at the age of 14.

Career

Colianni played in jazz clubs in Washington D.C., and appeared as a teen with a traveling group of young musicians known as Jazz Stars of the Future. This group performed under the direction of Keter Betts. During his last year of high school, Colianni moved to New Jersey with his family.[1]

He became a pianist in Lionel Hampton's big band for three years.[1] His debut album was released by Concord Records.[2] In 1987, he came in third in the 1987 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition in [3]

From 1987–1990 he played with film director and clarinetist Woody Allen's Ragtime and Funeral Orchestra. He recorded with Mel Tormé and toured with him in the early 1990s. From 2003–2009 he was a trio led by guitarist Les Paul.[1] From 2010–2013 he toured and recorded with the trio of Larry Coryell. In 2004 he worked with vocalist Anita O'Day.[4] He has recorded with Joe Wilder, Connie Kay, Emily Remler, Mel Lewis, and Lew Tabackin.

Discography

As leader
  • John Colianni (Concord Jazz, 1986)
  • Blues-o-Matic (Concord Jazz, 1989)
  • At Maybeck (Concord Jazz, 1995)
  • Colianni & Company (1998)
  • Swings (Amosaya, 1999)
  • Johnny Chops (Patuxent, 2008)
  • On Target (Patuxent, 2011)
  • After Hours (Patuxent, 2015)
  • I Never Knew (Patuxent, 2018)

As sideman

With Mel Torme

  • Christmas Songs (Telarc, 1992)
  • Nothing Without You (Concord Jazz, 1992)
  • Sing, Sing, Sing (Concord Jazz, 1993)
  • The Great American Songbook: Live at Michael's Pub (Telarc, 1993)
  • A Tribute to Bing Crosby (Concord Jazz, 1994)

With others

References
  1. Colianni, John (September 2013). "Maximizing Piano Technique Using the Matthay Exercises". DownBeat. pp. 76–77.
  2. "John Colianni". Concord. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  3. "Hancock Institute of Jazz". hancockinstitute.org. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. Jenkins, Todd S. (22 February 2006). "Anita O'Day: Indestructible!". All About Jazz. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
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