Don Abney

John Donald Abney (March 10, 1923 – January 27, 2000) was an American jazz pianist.

Early life
Abney was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He studied piano and french horn at the Manhattan School of Music. He joined the United States Army where he played the French horn in the army band and achieved the rank of technician fifth grade.

Later life and career
After returning from the army he played in ensembles with Wilbur de Paris, Bill Harris, Kai Winding, Chuck Wayne, Sy Oliver, and Louis Bellson. He had a sustained career as a session musician, playing on recordings for Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter, Oscar Pettiford, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Eartha Kitt, and Pearl Bailey. He also played on many recordings for more minor musicians and on R&B, pop, rock, and doo wop releases.

After moving to Hollywood, he worked as a musical director for Universal Studios/MCA. He appeared as a pianist in the film Pete Kelly's Blues behind Ella Fitzgerald. Additional credits include recording and arrangements for the film Lady Sings the Blues. He toured with Anita O'Day in the 1980s. Early in the 1990s, he moved to Japan and toured there with considerable success, playing weekly at the Sanno Hotel in Tokyo. Upon his return to the United States on January 20, 2000, he died of complications from kidney dialysis in Los Angeles, California. He was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery, in Burbank, California. He is survived by 5 children.

As sideman
With Ella Fitzgerald With Louis Bellson With Benny Carter With Harry Edison With Carmen McRae With Oscar Pettiford With Al Sears With Carol Sloane
 * Ella at Zardi's (Verve, 2017)
 * Louis Bellson Quintet (Norgran, 1954)
 * Drumorama! (Verve, 1957)
 * Louis Bellson at The Flamingo (Verve, 1957)
 * Benny Carter Plays Pretty (Norgran, 1954)
 * New Jazz Sounds (Norgran, 1954)
 * Moonglow: Love Songs by Benny Carter and his Orchestra (Verve, 1957)
 * "Sweets" for the Sweet (Sue, 1964)
 * Birds of a Feather (Decca, 1958)
 * Another One (Bethlehem, 1955)
 * Rockin' in Rhythm (Swingville, 1960) as The Swingville All-Stars with Taft Jordan and Hilton Jefferson
 * Swing's the Thing (Swingsville, 1960)
 * As Time Goes By (Four Star, 1990)