Thursday Night Jazz: John Shannon Trio’s “A Day in Tarifa” (Vinyl Release)

Photo Credit: Mevlut Akkaya. Photo Courtesy: John Shannon.

This Thursday Night Jazz performance welcomes guitarist John Shannon, a Pittsburgh native who follows in the lineage of George Benson, Jimmy Ponder, Joe Pass, and Joe Negri, for the vinyl release of his debut jazz album, A Day in Tarifa. The album features John’s original music inspired by the landscapes of Tarifa, Spain, and his hometown of Pittsburgh (with tunes like “Four One Two” and “Liberty Bridge”). The music ties his Pittsburgh roots to southern Spain and his search for sound in nature. It’s both a return home and a new beginning — shaped on the road, tested onstage, and distilled into his own voice.

The organ-trio set features Cliff Barnes on Hammond organ and James Johnson III on drums. “I love the sound of the organ trio,” says John. “It has such a trance nature to it.” Their interplay gives A Day in Tarifa its identity: straight-ahead and hard-bop in feel, with the soulful drive that defines Pittsburgh jazz.

With A Day in Tarifa, John makes his first full jazz statement. In his hands, the guitar becomes a bridge — linking Steel City’s swing tradition to his own voice.

Copies of the album, a double LP vinyl, will be available for sale at the program. 

Featured Musicians:

John Shannon: guitar

Cliff Barnes: organ

James Johnson III: drums

About the Artist:

John Shannon began shaping his voice early. He started playing guitar at age six. By high school, he was performing around Pittsburgh, studying with bassist Dwayne Dolphin, saxophonist Eric Kloss, and organist Mike Ross. At Berklee, he trained with Mick Goodrick and Wayne Krantz, alongside classmates Hiromi Uehara, Bob Reynolds, Walter Smith III, and Kendrick Scott. In 1999, he formed Waking Vision with drummer Martin Valihora and bassist Mitch Cohn, touring Europe before he turned twenty. Soon after, he stepped in on guitar with Hiromi’s Sonicbloom, subbing for David Fiuczynski on live dates around the world. His debut, American Mystic (2008), was praised for its intimacy, followed by Songs of the Desert River (2011) and Time Was a Lie (2012). In 2021, he produced State of Mind for Con Alma Records, capturing Pittsburgh’s scene during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, he signed with Jazzbook Records, making A Day in Tarifa his first statement for the label. Though his work spans jazz, rock, and film, John has remained rooted in Pittsburgh. “They call it the Pittsburgh quarter note,” he explains. “If you don’t swing, you’re not really accepted as part of the scene.” Since 2019, he has co-owned and curated Con Alma, one of the only musician-owned jazz clubs in the U.S. He programs local stalwarts alongside touring artists, fosters a listening-first space, and works to reawaken Pittsburgh’s jazz consciousness. 

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant, Cucina Alfabeto, is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Please visit OpenTable or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.