Mike LeDonne

Michael LeDonne (born Oct 26, 1956 in Bridgeport, Connecticut) is a jazz pianist and organist known for post-bop and hard bop. He has worked with Benny Golson since 1996 and performs under his own name all over the world.
LeDonne is also known as one of the leading players of the Hammond B3 organ. He was nominated for Best Keyboards 2012 but the Jazz Journalists Association and won the Downbeat critic's poll for "Rising Star" on organ. Since 2001 he has performed every Tuesday evening at Smoke Jazz Club in New York City. Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson described LeDonne as "one of the most promising and talented pianists of this era."

His parents ran a music store and his father was a jazz guitarist. His father started booking him gigs from the age of ten. At 21 he graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music and moved to New York City, playing with the Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra.

LeDonne made his recording debut in 1988 and joined Milt Jackson's Quartet. He performed with the band for 11 years and eventually became the Quartet's musical director. He has also worked with many of the masters of jazz history such as Benny Goodman, Sonny Rollins, Bobby Hutcherson, Art Farmer, Dizzy Gillespie.

As a leader

• Bout Time (1988) Criss Cross
• The Feeling of Jazz (1990) Criss Cross
• Common Ground (1990) Criss Cross
• Soulmates (1993) Criss Cross
• Waltz for an Urbanite (1996) Criss Cross
• To Each His Own (1998) Double-Time Records
• Then and Now (2000) Double-Time
• Bags Groove: A Tribute to Milt Jackson (2001) Double-Time
• Smokin' Out Loud (2004) Savant
• Night Song (2005) Savant
• On Fire (2006) Savant
• Fivelive (2008) Savant
• The Groover (2010) Savant
• Keep the Faith (2011) Savant
• Speak (2013) Cellar Live
• I Love Music (2014) Savant
• AwwlRIGHT! (2015) Savant

As a sideman

With Eric Alexander

• The Battle: Live at Smoke (2005) HighNote
• Gentle Ballads (2005) Venus
• Gentle Ballads II (2008) Venus
• Gentle Ballads III (2008) Venus
• Revival of the Fittest (2009) HighNote
• Lazy Afternoons - Gentle Ballads IV (2010) Venus
• Friendly Fire: Live at Smoke (2012) HighNote

With Chris Flory

• For All We Know (1990) Concord
• Word on the Street (1996) Double-Time
• For You (2008) Arbors

With Benny Golson

• Remembering Clifford (1998) Milestone
• Brown Immortal (2000) Keystone
• Terminal 1 (2004) Concord
• New Time, New 'Tet (2009) Concord

With Wycliffe Gordon

• Boss Bones (2008) Criss Cross
• Cone and T-Staff (2010) Criss Cross

With Scott Hamilton

• Organic Duke (1994) Concord

With Michael Hashim

• A Blue Streak (1991) Stash
• Guys and Dolls (1992) Stash
• Multicolored Blue (1999) Hep

With Milt Jackson

• Sa Va Bella (For Lady Legends) (1997) Qwest

With Alvin Queen

• I Ain't Lookin' at You (2006) Enja
• Mighty Long Way (2009) Enja

With Duke Robillard

• Swing (1988) Rounder

With Scott Robinson

• Jazz Ambassador: Scott Robinson Plays the Compositions of Louis Armstrong (2004) Arbors
• Plays the Compositions of Thad Jones: Forever Lasting (2007) Arbors

With Jim Rotondi

• Blues for Brother Ray (2009) Posi-Tone

With Tad Shull

• Deep Passion (1990) Criss Cross
• In the Land of the Tenor (1991) Criss Cross

With Gary Smulyan

• Saxophone Mosaic (1993) Criss Cross
• With Strings (1996) Criss Cross
• The Real Deal (2003) Reservoir
• More Treasures (2007) Reservoir
• Smul's Paradise (2012) Capri

With Jim Snidero

• Standards Plus (1997) Double-Time
• Tippin' (2007) Savant

With Benny Waters

• Birdland Birthday - Live at 95 (1997) Enja

With Cory Weeds

• Big Weeds (2008) Cellar Live
• Up a Step (2012) Cellar Live

With Laura Welland

• Dissertations on the State of Bliss (2005) OA2

With Saori Yano

• Sakura Stamp (2005) Columbia