Michael T. Mainieri Jr. (born July 4, 1938) is an American vibraphonist, known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead. He is married to the singer-songwriter and harpist Dee Carstensen.

Biography

Mainieri was born in The Bronx, New York, United States. Mainieri was a pioneer in introducing an electronic vibraphone, known as a synth-vibe, and has recorded with such musicians as Buddy Rich, Wes Montgomery and Jeremy Steig. He performed for a live album by Laura Nyro and was featured on several tracks from the Dire Straits album, Love Over Gold (1982), as well as on "Ride Across the River" on the album Brothers in Arms (1985). He performed on the albums Heads by Bob James, Heart to Heart by David Sanborn, and Tiger in the Rain by Michael Franks.

He has also released numerous albums and videos as a leader for a variety of labels, most notably his 1980 album for Warner Bros. titled Wanderlust, which featured Michael Brecker and other members of Steps Ahead. He produced three albums for Carly Simon. Mainieri married singer-songwriter/harpist Dee Carstensen in 1993.

Discography

Mike Mainieri with Bendik Hofseth, Cosmopolite Scene, Oslo, 2016.

As leader

  • Blues on the Other Side (Argo, 1963) (as The Mike Mainieri Quartet)
  • Journey Thru an Electric Tube (Solid State, 1968)
  • Insight (Solid State, 1968) (as The Mike Mainieri Quartet)
  • Love Play (Arista, 1977)
  • Free Smiles: Live at Montreaux 1978 (Arista Novus, 1978) (with Warren Bernhardt)
  • Wanderlust (Warner Bros., 1981)
  • Man Behind Bars (NYC, 1995)
  • An American Diary (NYC, 1995)
  • Live at the Seventh Avenue South (NYC,1996) (as The Mike Mainieri Quartet)
  • An American Diary: The Dreamings (NYC, 1997)
  • Northern Lights (NYC, 2006)
  • L'Image 2.0 (L'Image, 2009)
  • Crescent (NYC, 2010)

As a member

With Arista All Stars

  • Blue Montreux (Arista, 1979) – live

With Steps Ahead

Studio albums

  • Step by Step (1980)
  • Steps Ahead (1983)
  • Modern Times (1984)
  • Magnetic (1986)
  • N.Y.C. (1989)
  • Yin-Yang (1992)
  • Vibe (1994)
  • Steppin Out (2016)

Live albums

  • Smokin' in the Pit (1980)
  • Paradox (1982)
  • Live in Tokyo 1986 (1986)
  • Holding Together: Live in Europe 1999 (2002)

As sideman

With Dire Straits

With Eliane Elias

With Art Farmer

With Michael Franks

With Tim Hardin

With Don McLean

With Buddy Rich

With Carly Simon

With Paul Simon

With Sonny Stitt

With Kazumi Watanabe

With others

External links