Michael T. Mainieri Jr. (born July 4, 1938) is an American vibraphonist, known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead. He is married to the singer-songwriter and harpist

Dee Carstensen Dee Carstensen is a New York City-based alternative music singer-songwriter and harpist. Career Carstensen's singing and songwriting talents were discovered by vibist Mike Mainieri, with whom she is married. Her debut album ''Beloved One'', rel ...

Biography

Mainieri was born in

The Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, United States. Mainieri was a pioneer in introducing an electronic

vibraphone The vibraphone is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone is called a ''vibraphonist,'' ''vibraharpist, ...

, known as a synth-vibe, and has recorded with such musicians as

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York ...

Wes Montgomery John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a dist ...

and Jeremy Steig. He performed for a live album by Laura Nyro and was featured on several tracks from the

Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums and pe ...

album, '' Love Over Gold'' (1982), as well as on "

Ride Across the River ''Brothers in Arms'' is the fifth studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 May 1985 through Vertigo Records internationally and through Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It spent a total of 14 non-consecutive weeks ...

" on the album '' Brothers in Arms'' (1985). He performed on the albums ''Heads'' by Bob James, ''Heart to Heart'' by

David Sanborn David William Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental Pop music, pop and R&B. He released his first solo ...

, and '' Tiger in the Rain'' by Michael Franks. He has also released numerous albums and videos as a leader for a variety of labels, most notably his 1980 album for Warner Bros. titled ''Wanderlust'', which featured

Michael Brecker Michael Leonard Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of ...

and other members of Steps Ahead. He produced three albums for Carly Simon. Mainieri married singer-songwriter/harpist

in 1993.

Discography

As leader

* '' Blues on the Other Side'' (Argo, 1963) (as The Mike Manieri Quartet) * '' Journey Thru an Electric Tube'' (Solid State, 1968) * ''Insight'' (Solid State, 1968) (as The Mike Manieri Quartet) * ''Love Play'' (Arista, 1977) * ''Free Smiles: Live at Montreaux 1978'' (Arista Novus, 1978) (with Warren Bernhardt) * ''Wanderlust'' (Warner Bros., 1981) * ''Man Behind Bars'' (NYC, 1995) * ''An American Diary'' (NYC, 1995) * ''Live at the Seventh Avenue South'' (NYC,1996) (as The Mike Manieri Quartet) * ''An American Diary: The Dreamings'' (NYC, 1997) * ''Northern Lights'' (NYC, 2006) * ''L'Image 2.0'' (L'Image, 2009) * ''Crescent'' (NYC, 2010)

As group

With Arista All Stars

* ''Blue Montreux'' (Arista, 1979) – live

With Steps Ahead

Studio albums * ''Step by Step'' (1980) * '' Steps Ahead'' (1983) * ''Modern Times'' (1984) * ''Magnetic'' (1986) * ''N.Y.C.'' (1989) * ''Yin-Yang'' (1992) * ''Vibe'' (1994) * ''Steppin Out'' (2016) Live albums * ''Smokin' in the Pit'' (1980) * ''Paradox'' (1982) * ''Live in Tokyo 1986'' (1986) * ''Holding Together: Live in Europe 1999'' (2002)

As sideman

With

* '' Love over Gold'' (Vertigo, 1982) * '' Brothers in Arms'' (Vertigo, 1985) – recorded in 1984-85 With Eliane Elias * '' Dreamer'' (Bluebird, 2004) * '' Dance of Time'' (Concord, 2017) With Art Farmer * '' Big Blues'' with Jim Hall (CTI, 1979) – recorded in 1978 * '' Yama'' with Joe Henderson (CTI, 1979) With Michael Franks * '' Tiger in the Rain'' (Warner Bros., 1979) – recorded in 1978 * '' Time Together'' (Shanachie, 2011) With Tim Hardin * ''

Tim Hardin 4 '' Tim Hardin 4 ''is an album by folk artist Tim Hardin, released in 1969. Erik Jacobsen recorded these Blues songs as a demo with Tim, John Sebastian, Sticks Evans, and Bob Bushnell in 1964. They were not issued until 1969. The songs are in a str ...

'' (Verve, 1969) * '' Bird on a Wire'' (Columbia, 1971) With Don McLean * '' American Pie'' (United Artists, 1971) * ''

Playin' Favorites ''Playin' Favorites'' is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Don McLean, released in 1973. It was re-issued by BGO Records in 1995. Track listing Side A #"Sitting on Top of the World" (Bo Carter, Little Walter) #"Living With ...

'' (United Artists, 1973) With

* '' Buddy Rich Just Sings'' (Verve, 1957) * ''

Richcraft ''Richcraft'' is a 1959 studio album, studio big band album by Buddy Rich and a big band / orchestra with arrangements by Ernie Wilkins. A nearly identical album, titled ''The Rich Rebellion'' was released by Wing Records without "I Want a Littl ...

'' (Mercury, 1959) * ''

The Driver ''The Driver'' is a 1978 American neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by Walter Hill. It stars Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, and Isabelle Adjani. O'Neal is the getaway driver for robberies whose exceptional talent has prevented him being ...

'' (EmArcy, 1960) * '' Playtime'' (Argo, 1961) – recorded in 1960 * ''

Blues Caravan ''Blues Caravan'' is a 1962 studio album by Buddy Rich and a sextet. Rich later took this sextet on a United States Department of State tour of the Far East and Asia. Track listing LP side A #"Blowin' the Blues Away" (Horace Silver) – 8:40 #" ...

'' (Verve, 1962) – recorded in 1961 With Carly Simon * '' Spy'' (Elektra, 1979) * ''

Come Upstairs ''Come Upstairs'' is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records, on June 16, 1980. It was the first of her three albums for Warner Bros. and it has a harder, more rock-oriented sound tha ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1980) * '' Torch'' (Warner Bros., 1981) * ''

Hello Big Man ''Hello Big Man'' is the 11th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records, on August 31, 1983. The album was Simon's last for Warner Bros. (and for what became the Warner Music Group, having also sp ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1983) With Paul Simon * '' Paul Simon'' (Columbia, 1972) – recorded in 1971 * '' Hearts and Bones'' (Warner Bros., 1983) – recorded in 1981-83 With

Sonny Stitt Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/ hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of hi ...

* ''

What's New!!! ''What's New!!!'' (subtitled ''Sonny Stitt Plays the Varitone'') is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1966 and released on the Roulette label. The album represents Stitt's first recorded use of the varitone, an electronic amplificati ...

'' (Roulette, 1966) * '' I Keep Comin' Back!'' (Roulette, 1966) With Kazumi Watanabe * ''

To Chi Ka ''To Chi Ka'' is a fusion album by Kazumi Watanabe. It was recorded and mixed in March 1980 during a very prolific period for Watanabe and then released in May 1980. The album features some of the most acclaimed jazz and rock musicians; part of the ...

'' (Columbia, 1980) * ''

Dogatana ''Dogatana'' is a 1981 album by Japanese jazz guitarist Kazumi Watanabe. As usual for Watanabe, it features many acclaimed musicians. The album, compared to other Watanabe works, has a very acoustic sound and is characterized by peculiar guitar "d ...

'' (Denon, 1981) * '' One for All'' (Polydor, 1999) – live * ''Lotus Night'' (Warner Music, 2016) – live With others * Aerosmith, '' Toys in the Attic'' (Columbia, 1975) - conductor * Manny Albam, ''

The Soul of the City ''The Soul of the City'' is an album by American jazz arranger and conductor Manny Albam featuring performances recorded in 1966 and originally issued on the Solid State label.Payne, D.Sonny Lester discographyaccessed April 14, 2015

'' (Solid State, 1966) *

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...

, '' Livin' Inside Your Love'' (Warner Bros., 1979) * Stephen Bishop, ''

Red Cab to Manhattan ''Red Cab to Manhattan'' is the third album by singer/songwriter Stephen Bishop and his first for Warner Bros. Unlike his previous two albums, '' Careless'' and ''Bish'', none of its tracks nor the album itself cracked the top 100 on the ''Billb ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1980) *

Kenny Burrell Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931) is an American jazz guitarist known for his work on numerous top jazz labels: Prestige, Blue Note, Verve, CTI, Muse, and Concord. His collaborations with Jimmy Smith were notable, and produced the 1965 ...

, ''

A Generation Ago Today ''A Generation Ago Today'' is an album by guitarist Kenny Burrell featuring standards associated with the Benny Goodman Sextet and Charlie Christian recorded in 1966 and 1967 and released on the Verve label.Marc Cohn, '' The Rainy Season'' (Atlantic, 1993) * Paul Desmond, '' Summertime'' (CTI, 1968) * Urbie Green, '' The Fox'' (CTI, 1976) * Jake Holmes, ''How Much Time'' (Columbia, 1972) *

Janis Ian Janis Ian (born Janis Eddy Fink; April 7, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter who was most commercially successful in the 1960s and 1970s. Her signature songs are the 1966/67 hit " Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)" and the 1975 Top T ...

, ''

Night Rains ''Night Rains'' is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Janis Ian, originally released in 1979 on Columbia Records. The commercial failure of her previous self-titled album and its accompanying singles led Columbia to demand ...

'' (Columbia, 1979) – recorded in 1978 * Bob James, '' Heads'' (Tappan Zee, 1977) * Garland Jeffreys, '' Garland Jeffreys'' (Atlantic, 1973) *

Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the " Piano Man" after his album and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo artist since th ...

, '' 52nd Street'' (Columbia, 1978) *

Etta Jones Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Her best-known recordings are "Don't Go to Strangers" and "Save Your Love for Me". She worked with Buddy Johnson, Oliver Nelson, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard, Ge ...

, '' Etta Jones Sings'' (Roulette, 1966) – recorded in 1965 *

Mark Knopfler Mark Freuder Knopfler (born 12 August 1949) is a British singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Born in Scotland and raised in England, he was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits. He pursued a s ...

, '' Local Hero'' (Vertigo, 1983) – recorded in 1982 * Nils Lofgren, '' I Came to Dance'' (A&M Records, 1977) *

Pat Martino Pat Martino (born Patrick Carmen Azzara; August 25, 1944 – November 1, 2021) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Biography Martino was born Patrick Carmen Azzara in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, to father Carmen "Mickey" ...

, '' Starbright'' (Warner Bros., 1976) *

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. On ...

, ''

Kisses on the Bottom ''Kisses on the Bottom'' is the fifteenth solo studio album by Paul McCartney, consisting primarily of covers of traditional pop music and jazz. Released in February 2012 on Starbucks' Hear Music label, it was McCartney's first studio albu ...

'' (Hear Music, 2012) * Brother Jack McDuff, ''

Who Knows What Tomorrow's Gonna Bring? ''Who Knows What Tomorrow's Gonna Bring?'' is an album by American organist Brother Jack McDuff recorded in 1970 and released on the Blue Note label.

'' (Blue Note, 1970) *

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross ...

, '' Suddenly'' (Warner Bros., 1983) * Monday Orchestra, ''Never Alone: The Music of Michael Brecker'' (Barnum For Art, 2018) – recorded in 2017 *

, ''

Down Here on the Ground ''Down Here on the Ground'' is an album by the jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, released in 1968. It reached number one on the ''Billboard'' Jazz album chart and number 4 on the R&B chart. It also reached number 38 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The so ...

'' (CTI, 1968) – recorded in 1967-68 *

Linda Ronstadt Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a retired American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American ...

, ''

Living in the USA ''Living in the USA'' is the ninth studio album by American singer Linda Ronstadt, released in 1978. The album was Ronstadt's third and final No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Release The album was originally released by Asylum in th ...

'' (Asylum, 1978) *

Ali Ryerson Ali Ryerson (born 21 October 1952 in New York City) is a flutist with a background in both classical and jazz, as well as being an instructor. She has performed and toured worldwide with a wide range of artists including Billy Taylor, Kenny Barr ...

, ''Con Brio!'' (ACR Music, 2011) *

, '' Time Again'' (Verve, 2003) * Boz Scaggs, ''Speak Low'' (Decca, 2008) *

Chris Smither William Christopher Smither (born November 11, 1944) is an American folk/blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His music draws deeply from the blues, American folk music, and modern poets and philosophers. Early life, influences and educat ...

, ''

Honeysuckle Dog ''Honeysuckle Dog'' is an album by Chris Smither originally recorded in 1973 for United Artists Records but released in 2005. The album was not released until 2005 because the record label was purchased by Transamerica, which culled over half th ...

'' (Okra-Tone, 2005) – recorded in 1973 * Bert Sommer, ''Bert Sommer'' (Buddah, 1970) * Swiss Jazz Orchestra, ''Pools: Live at Jazzfestival Bern'' (Mons, 2016) – live recorded in 2015 *

Livingston Taylor Livingston Taylor (born November 21, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician. Born in Boston and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he is the brother of singer-songwriter James Taylor, singer-songwriter Kate Taylor, singer ...

, '' Over the Rainbow'' (Capricorn, 1972) * Tony Orlando and Dawn, '' Dawn's New Ragtime Follies'' (Bell, 1973) – recorded in 1972-73 * Stefano Zeni, ''Parallel Paths'' (Zanetti, 2018)

References

External links

Official web site
*
Mike's featured page on the Party Of The Century international music projectMike Mainieri interview at allaboutjazz.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mainieri, Mike 1938 births Living people American jazz vibraphonists American jazz bandleaders American people of Italian descent People from the Bronx Jazz musicians from New York (state) Steps Ahead members White Elephant Orchestra members