Mike Longo Trio live, tonight, @ the Gillespie Auditorium

Join us for a special concert “A Celebration of Jazz Piano: From Erroll Garner to Herbie Hancock” with the Mike Longo Trio featuring Paul West on bass & Ray Mosca on drums on Tuesday, August 26 at "Jazz Tuesdays" in the Gillespie Auditorium at the New York Baha'i Center at 53 East 11th Street (between University Place & Broadway). There will be two shows at 8:00 and 9:30 p.m.

Mike Longo has performed with a list of jazz legends that includes Cannonball Adderley, Henry Red Allen, Coleman Hawkins, George Wettling, Gene Krupa, Nancy Wilson, Gloria Lynn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Williams, Jimmy Rushing, James Moody and many others. It was in the mid-60s when Longo’s trio was playing at the Embers West, that Roy Eldridge told Dizzy Gillespie about this new pianist he had heard. Dizzy came to hear him play and soon asked him to become his pianist. This started a life-long musical relationship and friendship.

From 1966 through 1975, Longo worked exclusively as Dizzy’s pianist and musical director. Mike left the Gillespie group officially in 1975 to venture out on his own, but continued to work for Gillespie on a part-time basis until his death in 1993. Since that time Mike has recorded numerous albums and CDs on various labels with some 45 recordings with artists such as Gillespie, James Moody, bossa nova queen Astrud Gilberto etc.

At present he has over 20 solo albums to his credit. The latest one is the outstanding "Float Like A Butterfly", one of the best jazz releases in 2007. It includes extraordinary renditions of originals by Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, plus such standards as "Dancing in the Dark", "Tenderly" and "It Could Happen To You". Paul West, who'll be performing live tonight, is on the bass, with Jimmy Wormworth on drums.

Mike Longo is sought after as a music instructor and is in demand for jazz clinics and concerts at universities and music schools throughout the world, and has appeared at the Lincoln Center’s new jazz room “Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola.” Longo is founder and President of Consolidated Artists Productions (CAP), an independent recording label, dedicated to allowing artists to pursue the types of projects that are in line with their career objectives. Longo’s latest venture, Jazz Tuesdays, is dedicated to allowing artists to retain creative control of their work and providing students and the general public with an opportunity to hear “world class jazz at affordable prices.”

Admission is 15.00, $10.00 for students.
Tickets will be sold at the door, or call 212-222-5159 for reservations and information.
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Jazz Tuesdays
in the John Birks Gillespie Auditorium
The New York Baha'i Center
53 East 11th Street (between University Place & Broadway)
Two shows: 8:00 and 9:30 p.m.