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Biography
Mark Jay Levine (born October 4, 1938) is an American jazz pianist, trombonist, composer, author and educator.
Early life
Levine was born in Concord, New Hampshire, on October 4, 1938. He began playing the piano at the age of five and started trombone in his early teens. He attended Boston University, and graduated with a degree in music in 1960. He also studied privately with Jaki Byard, Hall Overton, and Herb Pomeroy.
Later life and career
After graduating, Levine moved to New York, where he freelanced and then played with musicians including Houston Person (1966), Mongo Santamaría (1969–70), and Willie Bobo (1971-74). Levine then moved to San Francisco, and played there with Woody Shaw in 1975–76. Levine made his first recording as a leader for Catalyst Records in 1976. He also played with the Blue Mitchell/Harold Land Quintet (1975–79), Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Luis Gasca, and Cal Tjader (1979–83). From 1980 to 1983, he concentrated on valve trombone, but then returned to playing mainly the piano. He then led his own bands, and recorded for Concord as a leader in 1983 and 1985. From 1992 Levine was part of Henderson's big band. Levine created a new trio in 1996 and recorded it for his own, eponymous label. His Latin jazz group, Que Calor, was formed in 1997.
Levine began teaching in 1970: in addition to private lessons, he worked at Diablo Valley College (1979–95), Mills College (1985–95), Antioch University in San Francisco (1986–87), the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (1992–97), and the JazzSchool in Berkeley (from 1997). Levine also wrote two method books: The Jazz Piano Book (1990), and The Jazz Theory Book (around 1995). He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2003 for his recording Isla.
Discography
As leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Live at the Reunion San Francisco | Jazz School | Nonet, including Woody Shaw |
| 1977? | Up Till Now | Catalyst | |
| 1983? | Concepts | Concord | |
| 1985 | Smiley and Me | Concord | Duo, with Smiley Winters (drums) |
| 1995? | Impressions | with Afro Blue Band | |
| 1997 | One Notch Up | Trio, with Eddie Marshall, John Wiitala | |
| 1997? | Exact Change | with Eddie Marshall, John Wiitala | |
| 2000 | Hey, It's Me | Quartet | |
| 2001 | Serengeti | Quartet, with Peter Barshay (bass), Paul van Wageningen (drums), Michael Spiro (percussion) | |
| 2002 | Isla | Left Coast Clave | Most tracks quartet, with Peter Barshay (bass), Paul van Wageningen (drums), Michael Spiro (percussion); two tracks quintet with Harvey Wainapel (soprano sax, clarinet) added; one track quintet with Sheila Smith (vocals) added |
| 2009 | Off & On: The Music of Moacir Santos | With Mary Fettig (flute, soprano sax, bass clarinet), John Wiitala (bass), Paul Van Wageningen (drums), Michael Spiro (percussion) | |
| 2010? | New Music from New York |
As sideman
With Cal Tjader
- La Onda Va Bien (Concord, 1979
- Gozame! Pero Ya... (Concord, 1980)
- A Fuego Vivo (Concord, 1981)
- Heat Wave (Concord, 1982) - with Carmen McRae
- Good Vibes (Concord, 1984)
With Houston Person
- Underground Soul! (Prestige, 1966)
With Joe McPhee
- Rotation (HatHUT, 1977)
With Moacir Santos
- Saudade (Blue Note, 1974)