As a vibist, marimba and Latin percussion performer, Chris has led his own jazz quartet CCQ for the past fourteen years. This ensemble has given featured performances at NJPAC, various jazz clubs, private corporate and political functions and jazz festivals throughout NJ. His orchestral endeavors have taken him to Spain, France, Israel and Jordan, where he has given many radio and television appearances.
As freelancing percussionist for over twenty years Chris has performed with steel pan groups, African dance ensembles, brass ensembles, local orchestras, wedding bands and community musical theater companies. He has played with and for such notables as Art Garfunkel and Tina Louise. Recently he performed at the PNC Arts Center and Central Park in NYC with The Grateful Dead and Radio City Music Hall with Josh Grobin.
Chris, for many years has been a featured member of ALL-IN-ONE and earlier The Vine Street duo with Paul Vincent.
Currently he is in preparation for his next project as a solo multi percussionist. Chris' recordings span an assortment of genres ranging in styles from jazz/blues, classical, meditation, hip hop, and rock. In an endeavor to promote total percussion to the public schools systems,
Chris has written articles for the music educator's magazine Tempo and a book published by Cambridge University.
Since 1996 Chris Colaneri has been directing the Columbia Middle School Concert Band and Percussion Ensemble in Berkeley Heights, NJ. His duties at Columbia also include teaching lessons, directing the Jazz Ensemble, Steel Pan Ensemble and General Music class where he runs drum circles. Prior to this position, Chris has directed the band program at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, NY and has taught at Hubbard Middle School in Plainfield, NJ. He recently co-founded and is currently the Region II representative for the Percussion Educator's Association.