Johnny Guarnieri
John Guarnieri | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 March 1917 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | 7 January 1985 (aged 67) Livingston, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Jazz pianist |
| Years active | 1937–1982 |
John Albert Guarnieri (born March 23, 1917 – died January 7, 1985) was a distinguished American pianist specializing in jazz and stride styles, hailing from New York City.
Career
In 1937, Guarnieri became a member of the George Hall orchestra. He gained prominence through his big band collaborations with Benny Goodman in 1939 and Artie Shaw in 1940. His playing was recognized for integrating jazz elements with classical piano influences, drawing on compositions by Scarlatti and Beethoven.
Throughout the 1940s, Guarnieri appeared frequently as a sideman on recordings alongside artists such as Charlie Christian, Cozy Cole, Ike Quebec, Charlie Kennedy, Hank D'Amico, and Ben Webster. He also led his own ensemble, the Johnny Guarnieri Swing Men, which included notable musicians like Lester Young, Hank D'Amico, Billy Butterfield, and Cozy Cole, releasing material under the Savoy label. Additionally, he headed a trio with Slam Stewart and Sammy Weiss, recording for both Savoy and the short-lived Majestic label.
Guarnieri was among the first to incorporate harpsichord into jazz recordings while performing with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five. In 1946, his trio was featured twice on the BBC Home Service's 'Kings of Jazz' program in the United Kingdom, which highlighted jazz talents from America, Britain, and France.
In 1949, he contributed to the album June Christy & The Johnny Guarnieri Quintet. Later in his career, Guarnieri devoted himself to jazz education. His pupils supported the creation of "Taz Jazz Records," a label through which he issued numerous albums during the 1970s. He maintained a regular performance schedule at the "Tail o' the Cock" restaurant bar in Studio City, California until 1982. In the early 1980s, he recorded Johnny Guarnieri Plays Duke Ellington using a Bösendorfer Grand "SE" player piano as part of the Live-Performance Jazz Series.
Death
Later residing in Los Angeles, Guarnieri traveled to the East Coast in January 1985 for a concert engagement. During his performance at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City on January 6, he experienced dizziness and ceased playing at intermission. After resting at a friend's residence, he was hospitalized at St Barnabas hospital in Livingston, New Jersey the following day, where he passed away due to a heart attack.
Personal life
He left behind his wife Jeanne, along with six children and eighteen grandchildren.
Select discography
- Makin' Whoopee (Dobre)
With Cozy Cole
- Concerto for Cozy (Savoy, 1944)
With Tony Mottola, Cozy Cole and Bob Haggart
- An Hour of Modern Piano Rhythms (Royale, 1953)
With the Henri René Orchestra
- RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt (RCA, 1953)
- That Bad Eartha (EP) (RCA, 1954)
- Down to Eartha (RCA, 1955)
- That Bad Eartha (LP) (RCA, 1956)
- Thursday's Child (RCA, 1957)
With Ben Webster
- "Honeysuckle Rose" b/w "Kat's Fur" (Savoy, 1944)
With Lester Young (Keynote, 1943)
- "Sometimes I'm Happy"
- "Just You, Just Me"
- "I Never Knew"
- "Afternoon of a Basie-ite"
With Trio
- Makin' Whoopee (Dobre Records DR1017, 1978)
External links
- Johnny Guarnieri on discogs.com
- Johnny Guarnieri on allmusic.com