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Mike Longo and the New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble: Live From New York!

By Dan Bilawsky
December 28, 2013
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Mike Longo and the New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble: Live From New York!

When trumpet titan

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie left this earth he left no shortage of disciples behind. His now-legendary peers (i.e. saxophonists

Jimmy Heath

saxophone, tenor
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Heath and

Benny Golson

saxophone, tenor
1929 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Golson), a cadre of killer Cubans (

Arturo Sandoval

trumpet
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Arturo Sandoval, multi-reedist

Paquito D'Rivera

clarinet
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Paquito D'Rivera, pianist

" data-original-title="" title="">Gonzalo Rubalcaba, etc.) and a pride of young lions all worked with him, learned from him, and sang his praises, both before and after he departed; so did/does pianist

Mike Longo

piano
1937 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Longo, though too few people seem to recognize him.

Part of the problem, as illustrated above, is that Longo never fit neatly into a category. He was too young to be considered one of Gillespie's peers and too old to be considered on-the-cusp-of-the-new when he left Gillespie's employ. Perhaps that's why he doesn't get the credit he deserves for his work, Gillespie-related or otherwise. The truth is that he's been keeping the flame alive, teaching the next generation and furthering his own craft during his regular Tuesday night gigs at the John Birks Gillespie Auditorium in the New York City Baha'i Center. This recording is a snapshot of one such performance.

On a Tuesday in July of 2013, Longo and his big band—The New York State Of The Art Ensemble—held court at the aforementioned auditorium. In prepping for the recording, producer/saxophonist

Bob Magnuson

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Magnuson had enough time to set up two tube microphones, say a few words to the soloists about them, hit "record" and take his seat in the reed section; in other words, he didn't over think it and try to suck the life out of the recording. Magnuson simply wanted to capture the sound of Longo's band in action and he succeeded.

The album contains three Longo originals, three vocal features that showcase singer

Ira Hawkins

" data-original-title="" title="">Ira Hawkins and a pair of classics that can be connected to Gillespie—Golson's "Whisper Not" and Denzil Best's "Wee." Those classics bookend the album and turn out to be the standout tracks. A barnstorming and bluesy "Muddy Water" is the strongest of the three vocal tracks, as Hawkins channels

Joe Williams

vocals
1918 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Williams, but he also does an admirable job on his own arrangement of "I'm Old Fashioned" and Longo's unique take on "Over The Rainbow." Voice and material just seem to be a bit mismatched on those occasions, as Hawkins' deep and resounding voice seems destined for glory through the blues rather than ballads or easygoing swingers. Longo's originals speak to some different ideas altogether. The laidback, lightly funky "Afro Desia" possesses a simple charm, "Yoko Mama" sounds like it could've been in the

Buddy Rich

drums
1917 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Buddy Rich book in the '70s, and "Inner City Hues" is an understated gem.

Longo's band—like Longo himself—may be under-recognized because it occupies a place in an artistic middle ground. It's not pushing progressive art or living out its days as a museum piece, but it fills an important niche somewhere in between those two poles and it sounds great doing it.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Whisper Not; Afro Desia; Yoko Mama; Over the Rainbow; I��m Old Fashioned; Muddy Water; Inner City Hues; Wee.

Personnel

Mike Longo

piano

Mike Longo: leader, composer, arranger, piano; Chris Rogers: trumpet; John Replogle: trumpet; Brian Davis: trumpet; Waldron Ricks: trumpet; Bob Magnuson: alto sax; Lee Greene: alto sax; Frank Perowsky: tenor sax: Mike Migliore: tenor sax; Matt Snyder: baritone sax; Sam Burtis: trombone; Nick Finzer: trombone; Nick Grinder: trombone; Earl McIntyre: bass trombone; Tom Hubbard: bass; Mike Campenni: drums; Ira Hawkins: vocals (4-6).

Album information

Title: Live from New York! | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Consolidated Artists Productions

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