Event Detail (Archived)
Mike Longo Jazz Trio
Mike Longo is a jazz pianist, composer and author best known for his work with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band. In the 1960s Mr. Longo toured full-time as Dizzy Gillespie’s pianist and served as musical director of Mr. Gillespie’s quintet, composing and arranging much of Mr. Gillespie’s repertoire at the time. Mr. Longo was commissioned to compose a piece for full symphony orchestra performed by Mr. Gillespie in 1993 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Longo began playing piano at the age of three in Cincinnati, where he was born, and began formal training at age four at the Cincinnati Conservatory. He later earned a bachelor of music degree in classical piano from Western Kentucky University. Mr. Longo worked with the Hal McIntire Band in Kentucky and with legendary guitarist Hank Garland in Nashville’s famous Printers Alley.
Mr. Longo has at least 18 albums under his own name and has also appeared as a sideman or contributed original compositions to more than 50 additional albums. He has received several awards, including a scholarship from the Ft. Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2004 Mr. Longo began a Tuesday night jazz series called Jazz Tuesdays at the John Birks Gillespie Auditorium in the Baha’i Center in New York City. The Mike Longo Jazz Trio has been active since the 1960s, appearing at festival and club venues worldwide.
Bassist Paul West began his long and varied musical career as a violinist, studying with Albert Polarioff from age 6 to 18. Since switching to the lower-toned bass in the early 1950s, Mr. West has performed with Ray Charles, Billy Taylor, Dizzy Gillespie, Erroll Garner, Dinah Washington, Norman Simmons, Tommy Flanagan and Kenny Barron. Mr. West was also the director of the Henry Street Settlement Music School from 1973 to 2000.
Drummer Ray Mosca, born in New York City, began playing at age 8 with family members and for parties in the Catskills. He studied with Jo Jones at age 16 and at the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Mosca has done extensive commercial studio work and appeared in the 1959 film Jazz on a Summer’s Day and on The Tonight Show. Ray has played with a number of big names in jazz, including Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker and Dorothy Donegan.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $30.
Event Details
- Type
- The Peggy Rockefeller Concerts
- Performers
-
Mike Longo, piano; Paul West, bass; Ray Mosca, drums
Mike Longo is a jazz pianist, composer and author best known for his work with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band. In the 1960s Mr. Longo toured full-time as Dizzy Gillespie’s pianist and served as musical director of Mr. Gillespie’s quintet, composing and arranging much of Mr. Gillespie’s repertoire at the time. Mr. Longo was commissioned to compose a piece for full symphony orchestra performed by Mr. Gillespie in 1993 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Longo began playing piano at the age of three in Cincinnati, where he was born, and began formal training at age four at the Cincinnati Conservatory. He later earned a bachelor of music degree in classical piano from Western Kentucky University. Mr. Longo worked with the Hal McIntire Band in Kentucky and with legendary guitarist Hank Garland in Nashville’s famous Printers Alley.
Mr. Longo has at least 18 albums under his own name and has also appeared as a sideman or contributed original compositions to more than 50 additional albums. He has received several awards, including a scholarship from the Ft. Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2004 Mr. Longo began a Tuesday night jazz series called Jazz Tuesdays at the John Birks Gillespie Auditorium in the Baha’i Center in New York City. The Mike Longo Jazz Trio has been active since the 1960s, appearing at festival and club venues worldwide.
Bassist Paul West began his long and varied musical career as a violinist, studying with Albert Polarioff from age 6 to 18. Since switching to the lower-toned bass in the early 1950s, Mr. West has performed with Ray Charles, Billy Taylor, Dizzy Gillespie, Erroll Garner, Dinah Washington, Norman Simmons, Tommy Flanagan and Kenny Barron. Mr. West was also the director of the Henry Street Settlement Music School from 1973 to 2000.
Drummer Ray Mosca, born in New York City, began playing at age 8 with family members and for parties in the Catskills. He studied with Jo Jones at age 16 and at the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Mosca has done extensive commercial studio work and appeared in the 1959 film Jazz on a Summer’s Day and on The Tonight Show. Ray has played with a number of big names in jazz, including Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker and Dorothy Donegan.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $30.
- Open to
- Public
- Contact
- Alena Powell
- Phone
- (212) 327-8072
- Sponsor
-
Alena Powell
(212) 327-8072
apowell@rockefeller.edu