A Conversation with Mike Mainieri

I was, for a long time. Then, as I had some health issues, such as back problems in the 80's, which led to surgery in '92, my ability to move around became limited. When I was younger, I'd be out checking out everything, on two hours of sleep. I recently spent a week with Peter Erskine in Bern, Switzerland, performing with the Swiss Jazz Orchestra. It was a lot of fun, and we performed the compositions I wrote for Steps Ahead. Peter also contributed some Weather Report tunes and some of his original compositions. Peter's the kind of guy who has endless amounts of energy. He's just a bull. During the day he'll post great photos on Facebook, do a workshop or attend a meeting, and then explore the city. He's one of those "I'm getting up early and I'm going to go out all day" kind of people. Pete's not only an incredible musician and drummer, but a people person. I'm more reclusive. I've always been, since I was a kid. I'm a product of my upbringing. It's hard to explain. Take Joe Locke... over the years we've been in contact with each other. Look at his website, and look at mine. I've had my site up for years, and I don't think I've ever written a blog entry. I have a Facebook page with two hundred and forty-three notices of people who want me to respond! I think, "I'm not really interested in doing this... why did I agree to have a Facebook page?" Currently, I'm doing things that may be insignificant to others, but make me quite content. I'm practicing a duet piece with my fourteen year-old daughter, who is plays a pedal harp. I'm playing some duets in Germany with Bobo Stenson, and some gigs in Italy in mid-June. In August I'm going on vacation with the family in Florence, Rome, and then our vacation will end in Monaco. There, I have a gig with Bill Evans, bassist Etienne Mbappe, and drummer Nicolas Viccaro.

That's very cool. How has all your traveling affected your view of the world?

What really changed my view of the world occurred in '59, when I went to Brazil with the Buddy Rich sextet, and got a chance to hear those amazing Brazilian musicians, before they made their mark in America. I thought, "Wow, this is some incredible music. I have to play these tunes." Of course, the State Department tour of the Far East in 1962 opened my head to World Music. Hearing musicians from Africa and Asia "live," in large cities and small villages, really blew my mind. When I came back I wasn't the same cat who had left. The young cat whose musical experience was wrapped up in the world of jazz began to fade into gray. That experience helped me evolve into appreciating the Beatles, and various folk musicians in the rock scene that was exploding in the 60's. Without that tour, I don't think I would have been as open to what lay ahead. I had been like, "I'm just going to play jazz. That's what I'm going to do on the vibraphone.

Gary Burton told me a funny story about Chick Corea and The Beatles. I guess Chick is pretty intense when he's in his creative zone. He gets into his own world as an artist and kind of lives in a bubble, then he goes out and tours, and goes back to the bubble. He blocks out the outside world when he's creating, and he's been that way for a long, long time.

Yeah.

So Gary told me that the last time the two of them got together to make a record at Chick's house in Florida, Gary showed up and Chick was saying, "Man, have you checked out the Beatles?" Gary was like, "Uh... yeah. I'm familiar with them."

(loud laughs)

Chick said something like, "Man, that's some great stuff!" Gary was like, "Don't tell me you're just now hearing about the Beatles," and Chick said, "I've heard of them, but I never really checked them out. "Eleanor Rigby?" That's a great tune!"

(more laughs)

This is 2012 we're talking about.

Oh, man, that's funny. That's hilarious. And I can believe that story. I can picture that conversation taking place. "The Beatles... that's some hip shit!"

Forty years, never checked out the Beatles.

I love the Beatles. I play "Here, There and Everywhere" as a solo piece. As a matter of fact, I played that at Pasic, the time when Stefon approached me. He said "What was that tune?" I told him he should check out Ralph Towner's version. Different tunings.

Mike, I really appreciate your time. It's been a great conversation.

I enjoyed it. The questions were fun to answer.

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