John Colianni

John Kelly Colianni (January 7, 1962 – November 28, 2023) was an American jazz pianist.

Early life The son of Patricia Colaianni and journalist James F. Colaianni, John Colianni was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on January 7, 1962, and grew up in Maryland. Duke Ellington performed a concert in 1974 at Georgetown University. He came in third in the 1987 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition in Washington D.C.

From 1987 to 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 member of a trio led by guitarist Les Paul. He recorded with Joe Wilder, Connie Kay, Emily Remler, Mel Lewis, and Lew Tabackin.

Death Colianni died in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 2023, at the age of 61.

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) Ahead of the Crowd (Patuxent, 2021)

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 Muriel Anderson, Wildcat (Heartstrings Attached, 2005) Larry Coryell, Montgomery (Patuxent, 2011) Lionel Hampton, Made in Japan (Timeless, 1983) Lionel Hampton, Mostly Ballads (Musicmasters, 1990)