Michael Kanan

Michael Kanan is a jazz pianist based in Brooklyn, admired for the clarity, swing, and harmonic depth he brings to the piano in the Lennie Tristano lineage. Born in Boston, he began playing at seven and studied first with Harvey Diamond, later moving to New York in 1991 to study with the pianist Sal Mosca. He has played and recorded with musicians including Kurt Rosenwinkel and Mark Turner, and became a noted accompanist, working in the bands of the singers Jimmy Scott and Jane Monheit. He leads his own trio with guitarist Greg Ruggiero and bassist Neal Miner, a regular presence at Mezzrow.