Michael Longo • Funkia

 

Mike Longo is best-known as a reliable and versatile player who was the pianist with Dizzy Gillespie during 1966-1973. Longo was born in Cincinnati and began playing piano at age three thanks to his church organist mother and part-time professional jazz bass-playing father. The family moved to Florida, where Mike, at age 15, began working with his father’s band on weekends. Cannonball Adderly heard Mike and soon they were playing the Southern “chittlin’ circuit” together. Longo earned his Bachelor of Music degree in classical piano at Western Kentucky State University.

During those years, he went on the road with the Hal McIntyre Orchestra one summer and also played with legendary guitarist Hank Garland in Nashville. Longo toured for two years with the Salt City Six. After the group played at New York’s Metropole Cafe, the band left, but Mike stayed on as the house pianist playing with such jazz notables as Coleman Hawkins, Henry Red Allen, George Wettling, Gene Krupa and many others.

After the Chicago stint studying with Peterson, Longo moved permanently to New York City which led to opportunities to work with many great singers — Nancy Wilson, Gloria Lynn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Williams, Jimmy Rushing and others. Longo did an extended stay at Embers West with bassist Paul Chambers accompanying acts such as Frank Foster, Lee Konitz, Frank Wess, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims and Roy Eldridge. In addition, over the years Mike has performed on albums by Dizzy Gillespie, Astrud Gilberto, James Moody, Buddy Rich, Lee Konitiz and numerous others.

While Mike was with Dizzy, the band recorded many tunes penned by Longo such as “Frisco,” “Let Me Out,” “Soul Kiss” and “The Truth.” Longo started his own recording career in the early Sixties and now has 19 albums to his credit (three of them with his big band, the New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble). Mike Longo also is a renowned music teacher, has helped many jazz players with private instruction, and has written nine music textbooks, primarily on jazz improvisation.

But this jazz master has never stopped his own studies, constantly searching and learning, open to new ideas, and freely exploring deeper into the subtleties and nuances found in the world of jazz. When the floating butterfly spreads its wings, it’s a thing of beauty.
https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/mikelongo

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Mike Longo es conocido sobre todo como un pianista fiable y versátil que fue pianista de Dizzy Gillespie entre 1966 y 1973. Longo nació en Cincinnati y empezó a tocar el piano a los tres años gracias a su madre, organista de iglesia, y a su padre, bajista profesional de jazz a tiempo parcial. La familia se trasladó a Florida, donde Mike, a los 15 años, empezó a trabajar con la banda de su padre los fines de semana. Cannonball Adderly escuchó a Mike y pronto estuvieron tocando juntos en el circuito sureño de "chittlin'". Longo se licenció en piano clásico en la Western Kentucky State University.

Durante esos años, salió de gira con la Hal McIntyre Orchestra un verano y también tocó con el legendario guitarrista Hank Garland en Nashville. Longo estuvo de gira durante dos años con los Salt City Six. Después de que el grupo tocara en el Metropole Cafe de Nueva York, la banda se marchó, pero Mike se quedó como pianista de la casa tocando con notables del jazz como Coleman Hawkins, Henry Red Allen, George Wettling, Gene Krupa y muchos otros.

Después de su estancia en Chicago estudiando con Peterson, Longo se trasladó permanentemente a la ciudad de Nueva York, lo que le llevó a trabajar con muchos grandes cantantes: Nancy Wilson, Gloria Lynn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Williams, Jimmy Rushing y otros. Longo hizo una larga estancia en Embers West con el bajista Paul Chambers acompañando a artistas como Frank Foster, Lee Konitz, Frank Wess, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims y Roy Eldridge. Además, a lo largo de los años Mike ha actuado en álbumes de Dizzy Gillespie, Astrud Gilberto, James Moody, Buddy Rich, Lee Konitiz y muchos otros.

Mientras Mike estuvo con Dizzy, la banda grabó muchos temas escritos por Longo como "Frisco", "Let Me Out", "Soul Kiss" y "The Truth". Longo comenzó su propia carrera discográfica a principios de los años sesenta y ahora cuenta con 19 álbumes en su haber (tres de ellos con su big band, el New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble). Mike Longo también es un reputado profesor de música, ha ayudado a muchos jazzistas con clases particulares y ha escrito nueve libros de texto de música, principalmente sobre improvisación de jazz.

Pero este maestro del jazz nunca ha dejado de estudiar por su cuenta, buscando y aprendiendo constantemente, abierto a nuevas ideas, y explorando libremente en las sutilezas y matices que se encuentran en el mundo del jazz. Cuando la mariposa flotante despliega sus alas, es una cosa de belleza.
https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/mikelongo

Tracklist:
1 - Ole´For The Gypsies - 5:22
2 - Samia - 4:50
3 - Funkia - 5:42
4 - Windmills Of Your Mind - 4:29
5 - What's Going On - 6:16
6 - The Last Tango In Paris - 4:29
7 - Southern Soul - 8:02
8 - Gingele - 2:12


Credits:
    Art Direction, Photography, Artwork By – Sam Alexander (2)
    Bass – Ron Carter
    Drums – Mickey Roker
    Engineer – Malcolm Addey
    Mastered By – Sam Feldman
    Percussion – Potato Valdez*
    Piano – Michael Longo
    Producer – Sonny Lester


Label: Groove Merchant ‎– GM 525
Released: 1974
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz, Latin Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/master/view/276266

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