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Mike Mainieri

Primarily recognized as an award-winning jazz vibraphonist, Mike Mainieri’s equally remarkable talents as producer, performer, arranger, and composer have contributed to shaping the cutting edge in music.

During the ‘50s and early ‘60s, he performed with such legendary artists as Buddy Rich, Billie Holliday, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins and Wes Montgomery. At the age of 20, he won Downbeat’s International Jazz Critic’s Award.

In 1962, he joined the ground-breaking jazz/rock group Jeremy & the Satyrs led by flutist Jeremy Steig. The Satyrs appeared at New York’s Club A-GoGo, and performed with such monumental figures as Frank Zappa, Richie Havens and Jimi Hendrix. During the late ‘60s, this small circle of performers grew into what became known as the White Elephant Orchestra, a 20-piece, all-star, experimental ensemble. The group featured such soloists Michael Brecker, Ronny Cuber, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff and Randy Brecker.

In the late 70s, Mike founded the pioneering jazz/fusion group Steps Ahead, which included previous cohorts Michael Brecker, Eddie Gomez, Steve Gadd and Don Grolnick. Delving into contemporary sounds while maintaining experimental sounds and compositional integrity, Steps Ahead was and is a launching pad for young talent and new musical ideas.

Steps ‘alumni’ include appearances by such notable artists as:

Saxophonists: Michael Brecker, Bendik Hofseth, Rick Margitza, Donny McCaslin, Bob Mintzer, Bob Berg, Bill Evans

Pianists: Don Grolnick, Warren Bernhardt, Eliane Elias, Kenny Kirkland, Rachel Z, George Whitty, Mitch Forman, Robbie Kilgore, George Whitty, Dave Kikoski, Joey Calderazzo

Guitarists: Mike Stern, Steve Khan, Chuck Loeb, Hiram Bullock, Dean Brown, Paul Jackson, Wayne Krantz, Jimi Tunnell

Bassists: Eddie Gomez, Tom Kennedy,Victor Bailey, Daryl Jones, Tony Levin, Jeff Andrews, James Genus, Baron Browne, Richie Goods, Marc Johnson, Ed Howard, Larry Grenadier, Scott Colley, Richard Bona

Drummers: Steve Gadd, Peter Erskine, Steve Smith, Rodney Holmes, Billy Kilson, Clarance Penn, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Ben Perosky

Vocalists: Dianne Reeves, Bobby McFerrin, Richard Bona

Other noteworthy jazz collaborations have included recordings with Joe Henderson, Art Farmer, Dave Liebman, Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Joe Lovano, Jim Hall and Jane Monheit.

As a composer, arranger and performer, Mike has contributed to over 100 gold and platinum albums. An active participant in the rock and pop scenes, Mike produced and co-wrote three albums with Carly Simon, and recorded with Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Janis Ian, James Taylor, Dire Straits, Bonnie Raitt, George Benson, and on Don McClean’s classic album: American Pie.

In 1991, Mike brought to bear his vast experience with the creation of his own Jazz label NYC Records. The independent label is a vehicle for exposing new and established artists such as vocalist Luciana Souza, pianist Rachel Z, alto saxophonist Myron Walden and legendary tenor saxophonist, George Garzone.

Eliane Elias: Time And Again

Read "Time And Again" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
September 15, 2024

Internationally-renowned Brazilian jazz pianist and vocalist Eliane Elias presents her third recording on the Candid label--and the 32nd release of her long and distinguished career--on the innovative and creative Time and Again, a collection of eight new original sambas, which feature her piano, keyboards and singing in both English and Portuguese. As Mark Wexler, head of Candid Records states, “With each recording, Elaine proves she has no boundaries and showcases her mastery of song, musicianship and vocalese. She is an ...

Album Review

Luiz Millan: Brazilian Match

Read "Brazilian Match" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki

by Chris M. Slawecki
September 20, 2023

Brazilian Match is a tour-de-force of classic and contemporary Brazilian music written by and featuring singer-songwriter Luiz Millan. Millan's fifth album is a leader is his first for Jazz Station Records and Brazilian jazz impresario Arnaldo DeSouteiro, whose storied history includes working with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Eumir Deodato, Dom Um Romão, João Donato, and other legends, and who called Millan “a composer's composer." “A great melodist who also happens to be a great poet, a fabulous storyteller; a ...

Album Review

Rickie Lee Jones: Pieces of Treasure

Read "Pieces of Treasure" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
May 1, 2023

È stata una relazione lunga e tormentata quella tra Rickie Lee Jones e il songbook jazzistico. Una relazione iniziata con le sue prime esibizioni pubbliche, oltre quarant'anni fa, che va avanti alimentata dall'amore, nonostante tutto. Diciamo questo perché la risposta di pubblico e critica è stata fredda e talvolta feroce. Jazz standards costellano molti suoi album e ne troviamo in particolare in Girl at Her Volcano del 1983 e in Pop Pop del 1991 ma solo oggi ...

Radio & Podcasts

Steps Ahead, Mike Mainieri, Steve Khan, Metro and Mitchell Forman

by Len Davis
December 17, 2021

On today's show, we feature Steps Ahead and music from their Magnetic release, plus Mike Mainieri, Mitchell Forman and John Scofield.Playlist Steps Ahead “Beirut" from Magnetic (Elektra) 00:00 Mike Mainieri “Flying Colours" fromWanderlust (NYC) 06:12 Steve Khan “Guy Lefleur" from Eyewitness (Antilles) 12:27 Metro “Bing Bam Boom" from Tree People (Lipstick) 18:42 Mitchell Forman “Lock It Up" from Hand Made (Lipstick) 24:48 Carl Filipiak “Blue Entrance" from Peripheral Vision (Geometric) 30:52 Dieter Ilg} Somersault" from <em>Summer Hill</em> (Lipstick) ...

Album Review

Bendik Hofseth: Trunks

Read "Trunks" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann

by Friedrich Kunzmann
October 3, 2020

The first from a run of four albums, collectively titled Forest, Norwegian saxophonist Bendik Hofseth's Trunks sets a cozy tone which pairs minimal interplay with echoing acoustics in a modern mainstream jazz light. His sidemen all belong to the Norwegian jazz elite, most of whom have been recording together for years, prominently so for ECM. Hofseth partially dedicates the songs on the record to them. From subtle throw-back fusion to more contemplative aesthetics, the saxophonist's always through-designed compositions are given ...

Book Excerpts

A Conversation with Mike Mainieri

by Anthony Smith
June 2, 2017

The following is an excerpt from the chapter “A Conversation with Mike Mainieri" of Masters of the Vibes by Anthony Smith (Marimba Productions, 2017). So you've been working on a new project this week? Yes, just finishing some overdubs... it's a project I'm involved in with some friends, but I really can't talk about it right now. Sure. Also, my daughter and I performed at her school this week. She's a harpist ...

Album Review

Rodrigo Lima: Saga

Read "Saga" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki

by Chris M. Slawecki
April 17, 2015

“I fell in love with the jazz guitar--all kinds of jazz guitarists, from Jim Hall to Pat Metheny to Luis Bonfá, by listening to their records," explains Brazilian composer, arranger, bandleader and guitarist Rodrigo Lima. Saga luxuriously extends this jazz guitar love affair across the American and Brazilian continents--it was recorded in New York, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba--and across the two CDs of Lima's utterly magnificent recorded debut. Producer Arnaldo DeSouteiro elegantly ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mike Mainieri

Source: Michael Ricci
July 4, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Mike Mainieri's birthday today!

Primarily recognized as an award-winning, jazz vibraphonist, Mike Mainieri’s equally remarkable talents as producer, arranger, and composer have contributed to shaping the cutting-edge in music. Throughout his fruitful career—now spanning almost five decades—Mike has collaborated with the world’s most formidable jazz player’s produced numerous albums, and discovered a host of innovative, young talent. Raised in a family of performers and musicians, Mike’s training began early. At the age of 14, his ...
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