Johnny Guarnieri

Johnny Guarnieri (23 March 1917–7 January 1985) was an American jazz and stride pianist, born in New York City, perhaps best known for his big band stints with Benny Goodman in 1939 and with Artie Shaw in 1940. Guarnieri is also noted for his embellishment and juxtaposition of jazz with classical piano, such as Scarlatti and Beethoven. In the early 1980s, Johnny Guarnieri recorded "Johnny Guarnieri plays Duke Ellington" on a Bosendorfer Grand "SE" player piano, for the Live-Performance Jazz Series.

Throughout the 1940s Guarnieri was a busy sideman, recording with artists such as Charlie Christian, Cozy Cole, Ike Quebec, Charlie Kennedy, Hank D'Amico and Ben Webster. He also led his own group called the "Johnny Guarnieri Swing Men" and recorded with them on the Savoy label, a group that included Lester Young, Hank D'Amico, Billy Butterfield and Cozy Cole. He also led a trio in the 1940s composed of himself, Slam Stewart and Sammy Weiss, recording again for Savoy. During the 1940s he also recorded for the short-lived Majestic label playing solo piano and with his trio.

In 1949 Guarnieri recorded an album with June Christy titled June Christy & The Johnny Guarnieri Quintet. In his later years Guarnieri shifted more toward jazz education. In commemoration of his reputation as a teacher, Guarnieri's students financed a label for him called Taz Jazz Records. In the 1970s Guarnieri recorded numerous albums on his new label, and until 1982 worked at the "Tail of the Cock" nightclub in Studio City, California. He died onstage during a performance with Dick Sudhalter.

Select Discography
with Cozy Cole: with Ben Webster: Johnny Guarnieri Trio:
 * "Concerto For Cozy" (1944; Savoy)
 * "Honeysuckle Rose c/w Kat's Fur" (1944; Savoy)
 * http://www.box.net/shared/8lsa5oryae "Caravan" by Juan Tizol, first played by Duke Ellington in 1937, played here by Johnny Guarnieri on a 7 ft Grand Piano, through the LX solenoid playback system
 * "Makin’ Whoopee" (1970s; Dobre Records)