About

Gianni Gardner

Guitarist, Composer and Educator

Gianni Gardner is an up-and-comping jazz guitarist and composer living in New York City. He is best known for his quintet, Ascent, who performs original compositions. Ascent draws inspiration from innovative composers of a variety of generations such as The Miles Davis Second Great Quintet, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel and his former professor, Jimmy Greene. Ascent features both international and local musicians who reside in New York City, including tenor saxophonist Mackenzie McCarthy from Sacramento, California, pianist Francesco Pollon from Venice, Italy, bassist Conway Campbell Jr. from Worcester, Massachusetts, and drummer Peru Eizagirre from The Basque Country, Spain.

Having just completed his Masters of Jazz Arts from Manhattan School of Music (’24), Gianni studied and was deeply influenced by a wide variety of renowned jazz musicians such as guitarist Mike Moreno, pianist Marc Cary, bassist John Benitez and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen.

Gianni has also been regularly called to play with Connecticut based Latin Jazz group, Ed Fast and Conga Bop, performing at renowned venues such as The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, CT, The Iridium and The Django. Gianni is also the guitarist in Sean Nelson’s New London Big Band, where they recently recorded their upcoming album and presented the music at Birdland Jazz Club featuring lead trumpeter, Wayne Bergeron, and drummer John Riley of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

In June of 2024, Ascent recorded their upcoming debut album set to release in January of 2025. This recording features a diverse mix of music ranging from hard swinging straight ahead jazz, danceable upbeat groove pieces, emotional ballads, and an overall honest depiction of each musicians’ unique voice.

Shows

Previous events

Date Event Location
Gianni Gardner Quintet at Hartford Public Library's Baby Grand Jazz Series 2024 Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
Gianni Gardner Quartet at Penny Jo's Uptown Penny Jo's Uptown, New York, New York Penny Jo's Uptown, New York, New York
Gianni Gardner Quintet Performs for The CT Guitar Society Windsor Art Center , Windsor, CT Windsor Art Center , Windsor, CT
Gianni Gardner Trio Hosts Jam Session at Three Sheets, New Haven Three Sheets, New Haven, CT Three Sheets, New Haven, CT
With Manhattan School of Music Jazz Ensemble at Verdi Square Festival Of The Arts Verdi Square, New York, NY Verdi Square, New York, NY
With Ed Fast and Conga Bop at St John's Episcopal Church St John's Episcopal Church, West Hartford, CT St John's Episcopal Church, West Hartford, CT
With Rahul Shah at O'Tooles Way O'Tooles Way, New York, NY O'Tooles Way, New York, NY
With Rahul Shah at O'Tooles Way O'Tooles Way, New York, NY O'Tooles Way, New York, NY
With Mackenzie McCarthy Quartet at Broadway Dive Broadway Dive, New York, NY Broadway Dive, New York, NY
With New London Big Band at Birdland Jazz Club NYC Birdland Jazz Club, New York, NY Birdland Jazz Club, New York, NY
With New London Big Band at The Garde Arts Center The Garde Arts Center, New London, CT The Garde Arts Center, New London, CT
With New London Big Band at The Social Bar & Kitchen The Social Bar + Kitchen, New London, CT The Social Bar + Kitchen, New London, CT
With New London Big Band at Sailfest, New London Parade Plaza, New London, CT Parade Plaza, New London, CT
With KC Sisters at Ogontz White Mountains Ogontz White Mountains, Lyman, New Hampshire Ogontz White Mountains, Lyman, New Hampshire
With New London Big Band at The Social Bar & Kitchen The Social Bar + Kitchen, New London, CT The Social Bar + Kitchen, New London, CT
With The KC Sisters at International Festival of Arts and Ideas New Haven Green, New Haven, CT New Haven Green, New Haven, CT
With Ed Fast and Conga Bop at Butler McCook House Make Music Day 2023 Butler McCook House and Garden, Hartford, CT Butler McCook House and Garden, Hartford, CT
With New London Big Band at Christ Church Cathedral Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, CT Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, CT
Gianni Gardner Trio at Penny Jo's Penny Jo's Uptown, New York, New York Penny Jo's Uptown, New York, New York
Private Party with New London Big Band