BEGIN:VCALENDAR METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:-//EVDB//www.eventful.com//EN VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:John Colianni Quartet - Jazz Brunch in New York City at G arage Restaurant - Eventful BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20080518T120000 DTEND:20080518T160000 DTSTAMP:20080504T180308Z SUMMARY:John Colianni Quartet - Jazz Brunch DESCRIPTION:John Colianni grew up in the Washington\, D.C. metro area\ , and first heard Jazz on swing-era LP re-issues (Ellington\, Goodman\ , Jimmie Lunceford\, Count Basie\, etc.) in his parent's home. A perfo rmance by Teddy Wilson in Washington attended by John when he was abou t 12 years old also left a strong impression\, as did a Duke Ellington performance (more later).\n\nPiano Instruction\n\nShowing keyboard ap titude\, a suitable teacher for John was sought out by his parents. Lo cal musicians recommended Les Karr\, who\, in addition to teaching \, was well known as an outstanding pianist. Weekly lessons with Les Karr began in the 8th Grade\, when John was 14. Les Karr himself studied u nder Teddy Wilson at Juilliard in NYC. Les was also the first cousin o f pianist Dick Hyman.\n\nFor John's lessons\, Les emphasized technique \, and introduced studies of the Mathe' System\, a method that advance s digital dexterity and maximizes the capacity for speedy\, high-veloc ity piano playing. John Colianni\, noted for fleet "chops"\, cites the important role these exercises play.\n\nAround Washington\n\nStill in High School\, Colianni began playing piano professionally on the Wash ington\, D.C. Jazz scene\, which\, during that period included a numbe r of colorful Jazz clubs like The Pigfoot\, Mr. Y's Gold Room\, One St ep Down\, Blues Alley\, The Bayou\, The Famous Balloom (Baltimore)\, F rankie Condon's (Rockville)\, and other establishments.\n\nThese were Colianni's first performance venues\, and he played among veteran DC m usicians like Ella Fitzgerald's bassist Keter Betts (who recruited 16 year-old John for the revue "Jazz Stars Of The Future")\, pianist John Malachi (Billy Eckstine/Dizzy Gillespie)\, tenor saxist Antoine Roney \, bassist Steve Novosel\, arranger Bill Potts\, and others. Jazz Stud ies Director George Ross invited JC\, still in 10th Grade\, to play re gularly with the University of Maryland Jazz Ensemble.\n\nThere was an event that took place years earlier\, which perhaps helped set the st age for John's interest and involvement in the music world: Duke Ellin gton\, the most celebrated musician to ever come from Washington DC\, passed through town with his Orchestra on a tour during his latter per iod. Colianni\, very young at the time\, was mesmerized and electrifie d by the concert\, and afterwards presented Duke a copy of the Ellingt on autobiography "Music Is My Mistress"\, which Duke signed with a per sonalized message.\n\nTouring with Lionel Hampton\n\nThe Colianni fami ly re-located to the Jersey Shore during JC's senior year in High Scho ol\; it was here that John came to the attention of Carlton Drinkard\, former accompanist to the one and only "Lady Day" - Billie Holiday. D rinkard toured and recorded with Ms. Holiday for various periods betwe en 1949 and 1958. Carlton coached John in the art of performing with a Trio\, playing before live audiences.\n\nRoughly a year and a half af ter re-locating to Jersey\, Colianni visited Lionel Hampton backstage at an Atlantic City New Year's Casino job\; this led to a spot in Mr. Hampton's Orchestra\, with which JC traveled and recorded on and off f or 3 years. Other band members during John's stay included tenor sax g reat Arnett Cobb\; saxist Paul Jeffrey\; saxist Tom Chapin\; drummers Frankie Dunlop\, Oliver Jackson and Duffy Jackson\; bassists George Du vivier and Arvell Shaw\, and other greats.\nPlease go to the Press pag e for Lionel Hampton's personal account of his association with John C olianni.\n\nMonk Competition\n\nNot too long after the Hampton gig\, J ohn entered and won a cash prize in the 1st annual Thelonius Monk Pian o Competition in 1987.\n\n\nWith Mel Torme'\n\nIn the 1980s\, John pla yed a variety of gigs\, including a stint with the New Orleans-inspire d band of movie director/clarinetist Woody Allen. Allen's band played steadily at Michael's Pub in NY\, and it was here that John came to th e attention of Mel Torme'\, who was appearing concurrently at the same club. Hearing one of JC's recordings through the venues' system betwe en sets\, Mel promptly hired John as his pianist (without an audition) . John worked for Torme' for 4 and 1/2 exciting years\, touring and re cording 6 albums.\n\nLes Paul\n\n\nLes Paul offered the piano spot in his group to John in August of 2003. Les has not used a pianist in his combo since the '50s\, and\, in looking for suitable candidates\, sou ght the advice of players like guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli\, who recomm ended Colianni. As of this writing\, John is still with Les Paul. LOCATION:Garage Restaurant @ 99 Seventh Avenue South, New York, New Yo rk 10014 United States SEQUENCE:1209924188 UID:E0-001-011464488-9 URL:http://eventful.com/E0-001-011464488-9 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR