Pianist Lou Rainone started music lessons at the age of 5 and sang in the local school choir in Baltimore. Since that time he has been sharing a love of music with his CONTEMPORARy musicians and students worldwide for over 40 years. Lou recently moved to North Carolina after living in NYC for 24 years, he continues a music career performing and working as an educator and arranger.

At age 23, he graduated from Towson State University in Maryland and started doing gigs in Baltimore and Washington D.C. After graduating, Lou studied with music scholar Dr. Asher Zlotnik concentrating on theory, composition, arranging, and ear training. During 1982-1990 Lou published piano arrangements written for 5 pianos and had original compositions debuted at the “Res Musica” concert series at the Baltimore Museum of Art.  The Lou Rainone Trio performed at many venues including the Kool Jazz Festival and Eubie Blake Jazz Festival. As a sideman, he performed with many jazz musicians including Jimmy Heath, Jim Snidero, Eric Alexander, Vincent Herring, Jim Rotundi.  He released 2 CD’s as a leader during this period.

  In 2000 Lou moved to New York City and began performing in jazz clubs. He has appeared at many venues including Smalls, Mezzrow, The Blue Note, Birdland, Django and Mintons. He has recorded on over 40 CD’s as a sideman, several as leader.  He did tours in North America, Europe, Asia, Haiti and Bahamas with musicians such as Jerry Weldon, Bobby Porcelli, Randy Johnston, Ted Curson, Ira Sullivan, Grant Stewart, Dick Oats, Ralph LaLama, and Joe Magnerelli. 

As an educator of 30 years, Lou has been a dedicated teacher of traditional piano technique, theory, ear training, and improvisation. He was a staff member at Penn State University for summer music camp in 2005. during 2003-2018 conducted masterclasses in Taiwan and the Bahamas. He has arranged many solo piano pieces for students and published arrangements of jazz classics.