Mike Mainieri

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 <a href="spotify:artist:1mZm40boQmdGKicfbNkd0r">Paul Whiteman</a> in a jazz trio called Two Kings & a Queen. He played with <a href="spotify:artist:1pVtwG5Up1OZOEpSHJ4AAs">Buddy Rich</a>'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 <a href="spotify:artist:1pBuKaLHJlIlqYxQQaflve">Benny Goodman</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0JM134st8VY7Ld9T2wQiH0">Coleman Hawkins</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:03YhcM6fxypfwckPCQV8pQ">Wes Montgomery</a> (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 <a href="spotify:artist:45rpaf8BR69NIPqmeAYb7l">the Brecker Brothers</a> and other studio players. In 1979, he formed <a href="spotify:artist:17UkABEasVRlCcIFZ3wHb7">Steps</a> (which later became <a href="spotify:artist:5RKuvhYscPTUScwoFLAeK5">Steps Ahead</a>), an all-star jazz-oriented R&B/fusion band that included such players as <a href="spotify:artist:5IkynsVZoak9UR2Xt8qsMj">Mike Brecker</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0Ssqhquy8WFuqz7ZnZuBkR">Don Grolnick</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6HBVTGmPHytchERPb8YGPr">Eddie Gomez</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:42zoEf7IcpDSvdQjcrSpHl">Steve Gadd</a> in its original lineup. Mainieri has revived the group several times since, with such musicians as saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:4krYRNHjKcETSEY2Ghf9Mo">Bendik</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:79SEnPvprgRwg974L2ry84">Warren Bernhardt</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4qKIiUdFND09cgGOc5kfoR">Eliane Elias</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2NOT7eCzu06BIK7DGjFYK0">Rachel Z</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3zX0EMvB00JzxnRi5EIICP">Mike Stern</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4UjlFZPd9pYcyGhwdcrXvH">Tony Levin</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1aTPRuTpqvuPpAps3FhBhe">Victor Bailey</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3Bm6MhzPUczH3Pej2FNqGi">Peter Erskine</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7pnpCbCBCIHvkCqrXSib0z">Steve Smith</a> 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. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi