Mike LeDonne

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I love jazz because it hits you in the heart and makes you think. I was first exposed to jazz through my dad who was a jazz guitarist and had a lot of records. He used to play the Miles Davis recording Friday Night At The Blackhawk at parties and that recording got me hooked when I was a little boy. I met and played with many of the great masters. When I was younger I got to meet Count Basie when I played in a band the warmed up for his big band. He came back to our dressing room and sent in his assistant to get me so he could talk to me. He was very supportive and Ill never forget it. I also got to meet and play with Roy Eldridge and Benny Goodman. Then later on I was sent in to play with Milt Jackson's Quartet and wound up spending 11 years with him. I also was hired by Art Farmer, Sonny Rollins and have been in Benny Golson's Quartet since 1997. The best show I ever attended was Milt Jackson's Quartet with Cedar Walton piano, Ray Brown bass and Billy Higgins drums. The first jazz record I bought was The Best Hits of Herbie Hancock. My advice to new listeners - Listen to whatever appeals to you. Look at who's on the recording and seek out other records they're on and start to branch out that way. It's always exciting to hear someone you like and see who influenced them and then who influenced them etc... This way you'll be checking out the history and getting an idea of what lead to what.

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