Email Address

Lees at UnitedWeTab.com

Private Instruction

I offer private instruction for guitar in Astoria, NY

Home Town

Justin was born in Williamsport, PA and currently resides in Astoria NY

Instruments Played

Guitar

Favorite Playing Style

Jazz, Rock, Blues, Bossa Nova

Favorite Artists

Errola Garner, Art Tatum, Chrlie Parker, T Bone Walker, Kenny Burrell and Chuck Berry

Training

School of Hard Knocks - 32 years and counting

Musician Bio

Justin started playing guitar professionally in the late 70ﾒs and studied guitar with several local prominent guitarists in Washington D.C., including Rick Whitehead, Paul Bollenbach, Bill Biesecker, Danny Gatton, and guitarists not so local (including Herb Ellis and Emily Remler).

Although stylistically diverse, Justin's main focus is on a straight ahead approach to jazz steeped in the fifties tradition of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and rooted in the styles of Charlie Christian and T Bone Walker. The feeling of Swing and the Blues is a constant. While in Washington D.C. Justin worked as a freelance musician with a variety of people that has included Ron Holloway, Dick Morgan, Keeter Betts, Cindy Cain and others. At that time you could here him every Monday night with his own trio at the One Step Down Washington D.C.ﾒs premier Jazz club until itﾒs closing. Justin performed at numerous venues such as Blues Alley, 219 Club and Constitution Hall.

Justin is a current student of Howard Alden's and Michele Ramo as well as a past student of Dr. Asher Zlotnik. Past performances include opening for Nina Simone as a member of the Ron Holloway Group at Constitution Hall.

In addition to his own solo, duo, and trio projects. Current projects include the guitarist for the John Colianni Quintet since its formation in 2006. John Colianni was Les Paulﾒs most recent pianist until his passing, was with Mel Torme for 4 years, and also played for Lionel Hampton at the tender age of 19.

Other highlights from Justin's playing history include touring England in March of 2007 as well as playing for the Tri-State Jazz Society early in 2009. Justin also recorded on John Colianniﾒs new record Johnny Chops a 2008 release.

Additionally, Justin plays with the Gypsy Jazz Phenomenon ﾓFranglaisﾔ as well as with ﾓThe Jazz Collectiveﾔ .

Justin currently performs every 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month with the John Colianni Quintet at the Garage Restaurant in Manhattan (Noon until 4pm; 7th Ave and Christopher Street in the West Village), the 1st Thursday of the month at Blackbird Restaurant in Astoria with a vocal trio, and the 1st Tuesday of every month with his instumental trio at the Garage 10:30pm until 2:30am

Other Musical Projects

www.johncolianni.com vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=29806478 vids.myspace.com

Songs Transcribed

Videos Filmed