MIKE MAINIERI
''AN AMERICAN DIARY''
1995
66:08
1 Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein) 07:56
2 King Kong (Frank Zappa) 05:41
3 Piano Sonata (Vivace) (Aaron Copland) 05:35
4 Piano Sonata No. 1 (Roger Sessions) (Arr.: Mike Mainieri) 04:57
5 Town Meeting (Mike Mainieri) 05:21
6 Overture To The School For Scandal (Samuel Barber) 04:32
7 Hudson River Valley (Joe Lovano) 06:16
8 Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (William Grant Still) (Trad. Arr.: Mike Mainieri) 05:55
9 Song Of My People (Peter Erskine) 06:01
10 In The Gloaming (Trad.) (Arr.: Mike Mainieri) 04:28
11 Out Of The Cage (Joe Lovano, Mike Mainieri, Eddie Gomez, Peter Erskine) 04:20
12 In The Universe Of Ives (Mike Mainieri) 04:57
Joe Lovano/Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Alto Clarinet
Mike Mainieri/Vibraphone, Concert & Bass Marimba, Chimes, Whistle, Piano, Xylophones, Gongs, Midi Vibes
Eddie Gomez/Bass Guitar
Peter Erskine/Drums, Triangle, Hand Percussion, Percussion
REVIEW
by Scott Yanow / AMG
In addition to a few group originals, vibraphonist Mike Mainieri performs some unusual pieces with his quartet (Joe Lovano on tenor, soprano, and alto clarinet; bassist Eddie Gomez; and drummer Peter Erskine) on this CD, including two folk songs and selections by Leonard Bernstein ("Somewhere"), Frank Zappa ("King Kong"), Aaron Copland ("Piano Sonata"), Roger Sessions ("Piano Sonata No. 1"), and Samuel Barber ("Overture to the School for Scandal"). The pianoless quartet (which displays a lot of versatility by Joe Lovano) turns all of the music into creative jazz. The most interesting aspect to this thought-provoking disc is how difficult it is to tell which compositions are taken from classical music and which are new. There is a surprising unity to the potentially difficult material; the performances on the rather moody outing reward repeated listenings.
BIOGRAPHY
by Scott Yanow / AMG
Mike Mainieri, a talented and distinctive vibraphonist, has had a productive and diverse career. He first played vibes professionally when he was 14, touring with Paul Whiteman in a jazz trio called Two Kings & a Queen. He played with Buddy Rich's bands for a long period (1956-1963) and then became a busy studio musician, appearing on many pop records. Mainieri had opportunities to work with Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, and Wes Montgomery (1967-1968), among many others, and played in the early fusion band Jeremy & the Satyrs. During 1969-1972, he led a 20-piece rehearsal group called White Elephant that included the Brecker Brothers and other studio players. In 1979, he formed Steps (which later became Steps Ahead), an all-star jazz-oriented R&B/fusion band that included such players as Mike Brecker, Don Grolnick, Eddie Gomez, and Steve Gadd in its original lineup. Mainieri has revived the group several times since, with such musicians as saxophonist Bendik, Warren Bernhardt, Eliane Elias, Rachel Z, Mike Stern, Tony Levin, Victor Bailey, Peter Erskine, and Steve Smith making strong contributions. In 1992, Mainieri founded the NYC label and recorded the adventurous An American Diary. Prior to NYC, Mike Mainieri had recorded as a leader for such labels as Argo (1962), Solid State, Arista, Artists House, Warner Bros., and Elektra.
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2 King Kong (Frank Zappa) 05:41
3 Piano Sonata (Vivace) (Aaron Copland) 05:35
4 Piano Sonata No. 1 (Roger Sessions) (Arr.: Mike Mainieri) 04:57
5 Town Meeting (Mike Mainieri) 05:21
6 Overture To The School For Scandal (Samuel Barber) 04:32
7 Hudson River Valley (Joe Lovano) 06:16
8 Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (William Grant Still) (Trad. Arr.: Mike Mainieri) 05:55
9 Song Of My People (Peter Erskine) 06:01
10 In The Gloaming (Trad.) (Arr.: Mike Mainieri) 04:28
11 Out Of The Cage (Joe Lovano, Mike Mainieri, Eddie Gomez, Peter Erskine) 04:20
12 In The Universe Of Ives (Mike Mainieri) 04:57
Joe Lovano/Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Alto Clarinet
Mike Mainieri/Vibraphone, Concert & Bass Marimba, Chimes, Whistle, Piano, Xylophones, Gongs, Midi Vibes
Eddie Gomez/Bass Guitar
Peter Erskine/Drums, Triangle, Hand Percussion, Percussion
REVIEW
by Scott Yanow / AMG
In addition to a few group originals, vibraphonist Mike Mainieri performs some unusual pieces with his quartet (Joe Lovano on tenor, soprano, and alto clarinet; bassist Eddie Gomez; and drummer Peter Erskine) on this CD, including two folk songs and selections by Leonard Bernstein ("Somewhere"), Frank Zappa ("King Kong"), Aaron Copland ("Piano Sonata"), Roger Sessions ("Piano Sonata No. 1"), and Samuel Barber ("Overture to the School for Scandal"). The pianoless quartet (which displays a lot of versatility by Joe Lovano) turns all of the music into creative jazz. The most interesting aspect to this thought-provoking disc is how difficult it is to tell which compositions are taken from classical music and which are new. There is a surprising unity to the potentially difficult material; the performances on the rather moody outing reward repeated listenings.
BIOGRAPHY
by Scott Yanow / AMG
Mike Mainieri, a talented and distinctive vibraphonist, has had a productive and diverse career. He first played vibes professionally when he was 14, touring with Paul Whiteman in a jazz trio called Two Kings & a Queen. He played with Buddy Rich's bands for a long period (1956-1963) and then became a busy studio musician, appearing on many pop records. Mainieri had opportunities to work with Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, and Wes Montgomery (1967-1968), among many others, and played in the early fusion band Jeremy & the Satyrs. During 1969-1972, he led a 20-piece rehearsal group called White Elephant that included the Brecker Brothers and other studio players. In 1979, he formed Steps (which later became Steps Ahead), an all-star jazz-oriented R&B/fusion band that included such players as Mike Brecker, Don Grolnick, Eddie Gomez, and Steve Gadd in its original lineup. Mainieri has revived the group several times since, with such musicians as saxophonist Bendik, Warren Bernhardt, Eliane Elias, Rachel Z, Mike Stern, Tony Levin, Victor Bailey, Peter Erskine, and Steve Smith making strong contributions. In 1992, Mainieri founded the NYC label and recorded the adventurous An American Diary. Prior to NYC, Mike Mainieri had recorded as a leader for such labels as Argo (1962), Solid State, Arista, Artists House, Warner Bros., and Elektra.
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