Primarily recognized as an award-winning jazz vibraphonist, Mike Mainieri is equally remarkable as a producer, performer, arranger, and composer, 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 the late ‘70s, Mainieri founded the pioneering jazz/fusion group Steps Ahead, which included Michael Brecker, Eddie Gomez, Steve Gadd, and Don Grolnick. Delving into experimental sounds while maintaining compositional integrity, Steps Ahead was and is a launching pad for young talent and new musical ideas.
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, Mainieri has contributed to more than 100 gold and platinum albums. An active participant in the rock and pop scenes, he produced and cowrote three albums with Carly Simon and recorded with Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Janis Ian, James Taylor, Dire Straits, Bonnie Raitt, and George Benson, and on Don McClean's classic album American Pie.
Mainieri is still actively touring worldwide with his group Steps Ahead, as well as guesting in workshops and on various recording projects.
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