MIKE MAINIERI
''AN AMERICAN DIARY: THE DREAMINGS''
1997
71:10
1 R Is for Riddle 06:27
2 Los Dos Lorettas 05:17
3 The Dreamings 06:28
4 Schecharchoret (Traditional) 05:26
5 Bashi-Bazouk (Steve Barber, Marc Johnson) 08:29
6 Dear, My Friend (The Gift) (Mike Mainieri, Arto Tuncboyaciyan) 03:10
7 Planting Rice Is Never Fun (Traditional) 05:47
8 Straphangin' 06:21
9 An American Tale 04:51
10 Peyote Prayer (Traditional) 05:09
11 One Night in Paradise 10:21
12 Why Gypsies Are Scattered All (George Garzone, Mike Mainieri) 03:19
Tracks By Mainieri, Except As Indicated
Mike Mainieri/Vibraphone
George Garzone/Saxophone
Marc Johnson/Bass Guitar
Peter Erskine/Drums
Loretta Dee Carstensen/Harp On 2
Arto Tuncboyan/Gong, Percussion On 2-3, 5, 6
Simon Seven/Didgeridoo On 3
Jamsheid Sharifi/Percussion On 3
Gil Dor/Acoustic Guitar On 4
Noa/Vocals On 4
David Tronzo/Slide Guitar, Electric Sitar, Guitar On 5, 10, 12
REVIEW
by David R. Adler / AMG
The Dreamings is the second volume of Mike Mainieri's An American Diary project. The vibraphonist and leader appears primarily with saxophonist George Garzone, bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Peter Erskine. But thanks to the rotating cast of guest musicians, each track is a wholly new experience, distinguished by unexpected timbres and colors. Especially noteworthy are George Garzone's clarinet on "One Night in Paradise," Erik Friedlander's cello on "Planting Rice Is Never Fun," Simon Seven's didgeridoo on "The Dreamings," and Arto Tuncboyan's sazabo on "Dear, My Friend (The Gift)." Mainieri's goal was to explore his musical upbringing in an American immigrant family, as well as his later experiences as a traveling musician. His first American Diary record included music by composers as far apart as Aaron Copland and Frank Zappa. This diary entry has an even broader scope, including folk material from the Philippines and Yemen, as well as original pieces inspired by Australian aborigines, gypsies, and the Navajo and Apache tribes. Mainieri's use of the term "American" is therefore expansive, and subtly provocative. But the session never comes across as stilted political correctness or contrived world music. It swings. And in the process, it communicates with the listener in a genuine, unaffected way.
BIOGRAPHY
by Scott Yanow / AMG
Mike Mainieri, a talented and distinctive vibraphonist, has had a productive and diverse career. He first played vibes professionally when he was 14, touring with Paul Whiteman in a jazz trio called Two Kings & a Queen. He played with Buddy Rich's bands for a long period (1956-1963) and then became a busy studio musician, appearing on many pop records. Mainieri had opportunities to work with Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, and Wes Montgomery (1967-1968), among many others, and played in the early fusion band Jeremy & the Satyrs. During 1969-1972, he led a 20-piece rehearsal group called White Elephant that included the Brecker Brothers and other studio players. In 1979, he formed Steps (which later became Steps Ahead), an all-star jazz-oriented R&B/fusion band that included such players as Mike Brecker, Don Grolnick, Eddie Gomez, and Steve Gadd in its original lineup. Mainieri has revived the group several times since, with such musicians as saxophonist Bendik, Warren Bernhardt, Eliane Elias, Rachel Z, Mike Stern, Tony Levin, Victor Bailey, Peter Erskine, and Steve Smith making strong contributions. In 1992, Mainieri founded the NYC label and recorded the adventurous An American Diary. Prior to NYC, Mike Mainieri had recorded as a leader for such labels as Argo (1962), Solid State, Arista, Artists House, Warner Bros., and Elektra.
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2 Los Dos Lorettas 05:17
3 The Dreamings 06:28
4 Schecharchoret (Traditional) 05:26
5 Bashi-Bazouk (Steve Barber, Marc Johnson) 08:29
6 Dear, My Friend (The Gift) (Mike Mainieri, Arto Tuncboyaciyan) 03:10
7 Planting Rice Is Never Fun (Traditional) 05:47
8 Straphangin' 06:21
9 An American Tale 04:51
10 Peyote Prayer (Traditional) 05:09
11 One Night in Paradise 10:21
12 Why Gypsies Are Scattered All (George Garzone, Mike Mainieri) 03:19
Tracks By Mainieri, Except As Indicated
Mike Mainieri/Vibraphone
George Garzone/Saxophone
Marc Johnson/Bass Guitar
Peter Erskine/Drums
Loretta Dee Carstensen/Harp On 2
Arto Tuncboyan/Gong, Percussion On 2-3, 5, 6
Simon Seven/Didgeridoo On 3
Jamsheid Sharifi/Percussion On 3
Gil Dor/Acoustic Guitar On 4
Noa/Vocals On 4
David Tronzo/Slide Guitar, Electric Sitar, Guitar On 5, 10, 12
REVIEW
by David R. Adler / AMG
The Dreamings is the second volume of Mike Mainieri's An American Diary project. The vibraphonist and leader appears primarily with saxophonist George Garzone, bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Peter Erskine. But thanks to the rotating cast of guest musicians, each track is a wholly new experience, distinguished by unexpected timbres and colors. Especially noteworthy are George Garzone's clarinet on "One Night in Paradise," Erik Friedlander's cello on "Planting Rice Is Never Fun," Simon Seven's didgeridoo on "The Dreamings," and Arto Tuncboyan's sazabo on "Dear, My Friend (The Gift)." Mainieri's goal was to explore his musical upbringing in an American immigrant family, as well as his later experiences as a traveling musician. His first American Diary record included music by composers as far apart as Aaron Copland and Frank Zappa. This diary entry has an even broader scope, including folk material from the Philippines and Yemen, as well as original pieces inspired by Australian aborigines, gypsies, and the Navajo and Apache tribes. Mainieri's use of the term "American" is therefore expansive, and subtly provocative. But the session never comes across as stilted political correctness or contrived world music. It swings. And in the process, it communicates with the listener in a genuine, unaffected way.
BIOGRAPHY
by Scott Yanow / AMG
Mike Mainieri, a talented and distinctive vibraphonist, has had a productive and diverse career. He first played vibes professionally when he was 14, touring with Paul Whiteman in a jazz trio called Two Kings & a Queen. He played with Buddy Rich's bands for a long period (1956-1963) and then became a busy studio musician, appearing on many pop records. Mainieri had opportunities to work with Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, and Wes Montgomery (1967-1968), among many others, and played in the early fusion band Jeremy & the Satyrs. During 1969-1972, he led a 20-piece rehearsal group called White Elephant that included the Brecker Brothers and other studio players. In 1979, he formed Steps (which later became Steps Ahead), an all-star jazz-oriented R&B/fusion band that included such players as Mike Brecker, Don Grolnick, Eddie Gomez, and Steve Gadd in its original lineup. Mainieri has revived the group several times since, with such musicians as saxophonist Bendik, Warren Bernhardt, Eliane Elias, Rachel Z, Mike Stern, Tony Levin, Victor Bailey, Peter Erskine, and Steve Smith making strong contributions. In 1992, Mainieri founded the NYC label and recorded the adventurous An American Diary. Prior to NYC, Mike Mainieri had recorded as a leader for such labels as Argo (1962), Solid State, Arista, Artists House, Warner Bros., and Elektra.
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