Mark Jay Levine (October 4, 1938 – January 27, 2022) was an American jazz pianist, trombonist, composer, author and educator.
Early life Mark Jay 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.
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), Sonoma State University (1989-1990), 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.
Personal life and death Levine died of pneumonia on January 27, 2022, at the age of 83.Local artists mourn death ‘one of our Bay Area musical icons’, The Mercury News, January 31, 2022
Discography
As leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1975Live at the Reunion San FranciscoJazz SchoolNonet, including Woody Shaw1977?Up Till NowCatalyst1983?ConceptsConcord1985Smiley and MeConcordDuo, with Smiley Winters (drums)1995?Impressionswith Afro Blue Band1997One Notch UpTrio, with Eddie Marshall, John Wiitala1997?Exact Changewith Eddie Marshall, John Wiitala2000Hey, It's MeQuartet2001SerengetiQuartet, with Peter Barshay (bass), Paul van Wageningen (drums), Michael Spiro (percussion)2002IslaLeft Coast ClaveMost 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) added2009Off & On: The Music of Moacir SantosWith 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 Pete & Sheila Escovedo Solo Two (Milestone Records, 1977) 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 Mark Murphy
Stolen Moments (Muse, 1978)
With Houston Person Underground Soul! (Prestige, 1966) With Joe McPhee Rotation (HatHUT, 1977) With Moacir Santos Saudade (Blue Note, 1974)
Bibliography The Jazz Piano Book, Sher Music Co. (1989), ISBN 0961470151 The Jazz Theory Book, Sher Music Co. (1995), ISBN 1883217040 Jazz Piano Masterclass with Mark Levine. The Drop 2 Book, Sher Music Co. (2006), ISBN 1-883217-47-4 How to Voice Standards at the Piano: The Menu, Sher Music Co. (2014), ISBN 1883217806
References