Gianni Lenoci, born on June 6, 1963, in Monopoli, Italy, was a pianist known for his work in modern jazz, improvisational music, and new music. He began his musical journey with classical piano training at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, followed by studies in electronic music at the Conservatorio N. Piccinni of Bari. Lenoci's career included solo performances and collaborations with various ensembles, notably with Kent Carter and Bill Elgart on the album Plaything (recorded in 2012 and released in 2014). He also worked with prominent musicians such as Steve Lacy, Enrico Rava, and Glenn Ferris. Lenoci was the artistic director of Il Tempo Sospeso, a festival for improvised music in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, and taught at the Conservatory Nino Rota since 1990. He passed away on September 30, 2019. Posthumously, the album A Few Steps Beyond was released in 2021 (recorded on September 4, 2019).
