George Colligan ft/ vocalist Zyanna

Pianist George Colligan — winner of the 2015 DownBeat Critics Poll for keyboard and a frequent collaborator with Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, and Cassandra Wilson — brings his contemporary jazz artistry to Black Cat, featuring vocalist Zyanna in what promises to be an evening of harmonic sophistication meeting vocal innovation.

Colligan is one of the most versatile musicians of his generation, equally accomplished on piano, organ, drums, and trumpet, with over 130 sideman recordings and 40 albums as a leader. His recent release Live at The Jazz Standard (Whirlwind Recordings, 2025), featuring Linda May Han Oh and Jack DeJohnette, earned DownBeat critic's pick status. Reviews praise his "masterful craft" and "musical storytelling," noting how he builds "angsty tension" before releasing into "beautiful lines" — all delivered with the telepathic interplay and joyous energy that marks his live performances.

Zyanna adds a fresh vocal dimension, blending jazz standards with R&B, hip hop, and experimental elements. A member of Grammy-winning Los Angeles Vocal Ensemble "Tonality," she's worked with Colligan on recent projects including The Phyllis Wheatley Project (2023) and You'll Hear It (2024), making this a continuation of their established musical partnership. Her 2024 release Dance of the Dragonfly showcases her range as both vocalist and bassist, with a sound that bridges tradition and bold contemporary expression.

The rhythm section features bassist David Ewell and drummer Mike Mitchell (Blaque Dynamite), who has toured internationally with Stanley Clarke, Herbie Hancock, and Christian McBride. Mitchell's versatility across jazz, fusion, and hip-hop adds rhythmic complexity to the quartet's sound.

Expect music that spans from swing-influenced compositions to more experimental territory — what one reviewer described as Colligan's "chunky, block-chording" meeting his "gracefully dancing" pianistic lines, now enhanced by Zyanna's contemporary vocal approach. With Colligan's knack for mixing composers and compositions "with studied abandon" and his self-effacing humor between tunes, this collaboration promises both musical depth and an engaging stage presence.