John Shannon

John Shannon is a guitarist and composer who grew up in Pittsburgh PA and began playing music at age 6. After working professionally during high school and studying with local greats Dwayne Dolphin and Eric Kloss he went on to Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied with jazz luminaries Mick Goodrick and Hal Crook. During this time John also formed group Waking Vision Trio with musicians and began touring Europe at the age of 19. Moving to New York City, John performed as a free lance guitarist for many artists and albums across genres such as Sonya Kitchell, Hiromi and Bob Reynolds. During this time John also recorded 3 records under his own name for record label ObliqSound. After two years in Australia running the music for a touring cirque show, John returned to the United States to relentlessly tour with his rock band theSHIFT which led to a radio hit song in Peru. After deciding to take a break from touring John took an opportunity to be part of opening up a live jazz bar and restaurant, Con Alma, back in his hometown of Pittsburgh with the focus of giving the local jazz scene a home. In 2022 John signed on with Jazz Book Records out of France who will be releasing his next album with his Pittsburgh based organ trio in the fall of ’23.