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Mike Boone

It is well known in Philly that some of the city’s most ardent boosters were never native sons or daughters, but usually transplants from smaller cities seeking to make their mark before moving on to the Big Apple. But bassist Mike Boone, a New Yorker and Eastman School of Music grad, bounced into Philadelphia fresh off a second stint with drummer Buddy Rich in 1985 and stayed put. New York City didn’t really interest him (although he plays there a lot), and lucky for us, the green roots he put down here then have grown barnacled, brown, and rich with history.

Bassist Nicholas Krolak, a rising star based in Philadelphia, calls Boone, “The patriarch of the Philly jazz scene, mentor to all…and the torch-bearer of the Philly jazz tradition.” That encapsulates everything Boone is about. Above his own individual accolades as an instrumentalist, which are numerous and deserved, he’s the consummate steward of this music, in this place—a protector of the realm.

When he got to Philly, he put down his electric bass and picked up the acoustic; it was the only way to get gigs with the aging titans who still very much ran the Philly scene then. He immersed himself in that scene, playing at the old, beloved Ortlieb’s, educated by professors like saxophonist Bootsie Barnes, organist Shirley Scott, pianist Sid Simmons, and drummer Mickey Roker.

Boone has preserved that legacy; no one in the city teaches young musicians how to gig and how to become professionals better or more thoroughly than Boone, who, in addition to furiously gigging himself, also teaches at Temple University and is the always opinionated, low-talking pied piper of Philadelphia’s most legit jazz jam sessions—at Heritage in Northern Liberties and Chris’ Jazz Café— where welcoming up a steady stream of present and former students is de rigueur.


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Liner Notes

John Swana: Philly Gumbo Vol.2

Read "John Swana: Philly Gumbo Vol.2" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


It seems like a lot of up and coming trumpeters these days go for the bop stylings of Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw as their main influence. Far fewer look to players like Art Farmer or Kenny Wheeler for inspiration. That's what has made watching the development of Philadelphia trumpet man John Swana so fascinating over the years. While he has the chops needed to communicate in the high-octane language of be-bop, his tone and use of space suggest that ...

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Liner Notes

John Swana: Philly Gumbo

Read "John Swana: Philly Gumbo" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


It seems like a case of the big fish swimming in a small pond. So while Philadelphia native John Swana currently chooses to make his home in the city of Brotherly Love, it's clearly evident that this world-class musician could succeed easily in the Big Apple, the undisputed center of jazz activity in America. Taking up the trumpet at the age of 11, Swana was hooked on jazz after one spin of a Dizzy Gillespie record. Lucky enough to get ...

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Album Review

Maci Miller: Nine

Read "Nine" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


jny:Philadelphia-based singer Maci Miller gives her audience a variety of looks, all of them good. On first hearing, Blossom Dearie, but then, Blossom Dearie was Blossom Dearie. No one ever sounded quite like her. Then again, there is some mid 1960s Nancy Wilson, hushed, clipped, all business. On reflecting that Dearie and Wilson an odd combination do make, one just listens and stops thinking influences, other than “eclectic." Or maybe Billie Holiday, if Miller is in the mood. A Philly ...

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Album Review

Eric Wyatt: A Song of Hope

Read "A Song of Hope" reviewed by Jack Bowers


On A Song of Hope, his second album for Whaling City Sound, saxophonist Eric Wyatt offers more than hope; he offers assurance that contemporary jazz is alive and well in and around his home base of Brooklyn, NY. Wyatt, the godson of another rather well-known saxophonist, Sonny Rollins, performs in groups of various sizes, from quartet to octet, with vocals by Samara Joy on two numbers, “Fragile" and Wyatt's “Say Her Name." The almost-constants are pianist Donald Vega, bassist Eric ...

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Album Review

Nick Lombardelli: Secret Suite

Read "Secret Suite" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Nick Lombardelli's debut recording as a leader heralds the arrival of a prodigious composer, arranger and instrumentalist. Secret Suite is a five-part work that deftly fuses composed material and the improvisations of nearly everyone in an eight-piece band, including drummer Matt Scarano who initiates “Solid Ground" and caps off “A New View," the suite's final movement. Utilizing jazz and classical techniques, Lombardelli writes vivid melodies that evoke a variety of moods, often stretches his compositions beyond easily ...

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Album Review

Nick Lombardelli: Secret Suite

Read "Secret Suite" reviewed by Kyle Simpler


It's easy to see the influence of blues and popular music in jazz. After all, many jazz standards were originally popular songs, and blues is where jazz music originated. Classical music, though, has also featured prominently in jazz, but it doesn't always get the same level of recognition. However, some of the greatest jazz musicians and composers, such as Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, and Dave Brubeck have all been influenced by classical music. In keeping with this tradition, Nick Lombardelli's ...

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Album Review

Rich Willey Boptism Funk Band: Conspiracy

Read "Conspiracy" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


Both before and after his first terrific recording as leader--Gone with the Piggies (Consolidated Artists Productions, 1988)--Asheville, North Carolina-based Rich Willey has been a very busy jazzman. During that period, Willey spent dues-playing time with Philly Phenoms, New York Bopsters, did a stint with the great Maynard Ferguson, authored dozens of well-acclaimed trumpet and jazz improv books, wrote scores of original tunes, taught and, in his spare time, performed locally. However, within the last year he has released two outstanding ...

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Performance / Tour

Bassist Mike Boone Opens Jazz Bridge Center City Jazz Concert Series Wed. Oct. 9th

Bassist Mike Boone Opens Jazz Bridge Center City Jazz Concert Series Wed. Oct. 9th

Source: Jim Miller

The Jazz Bridge Neighborhood Concert Series in Center City Philadelphia at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion (2110 Chestnut Street) presents bassist Mike Boone on Wednesday, October 9. Showtime for the Second Wednesday Series is 7:30 p.m., tickets are $10/$5 for students, and are only available at the door. For info: 215-517-8337 or visit Jazz Bridge. Boone, who will be backed on this performance by pianist Luke O’Reilly, drummer Anwar Marshall and trumpeter/E.V.I. artist John Swana, is one of the ...

Performance / Tour

Free Summer Jazz Concerts 3rd Thursdays In South Philly!

Free Summer Jazz Concerts 3rd Thursdays In South Philly!

Source: Jim Miller

Jazz Bridge is partnering with the Friends of Hawthorne Park to present Jazz at Hawthorne Park, a FREE summer concert series at 12th and Catharine Streets (in South Philadelphia) on the third Thursday of every month this summer. Bring a chair and prepare to groove with the Mike Boone/John Swana Project on June 20th, the Renaissance Quartet with Tyrone Brown on July 18th, Webb Thomas' Webb T's Fleet on August 15th, and Venissa Santi's Quartet on September 19th. These performers ...

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Event

Bassist Mike Boone's group at the Kennett Flash on January 4th

Bassist Mike Boone's group at the Kennett Flash on January 4th

Source: Jim Miller

Appearing on Wednesday, January 4th at the Kennett Flash, 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square PA will be bassist Mike Boone and his group. Showtime: 7:30 p.m. One show. Tickets: $10/$5 students. No advance sales. For info: Call 484-732-8295. Dreambox Media artist bassist Mike Boone has been a Philadelphia icon for many years, especially for his legendary work with the Ortliebs' HausBand with pianist Sid Simmons and drummer Byron Landham. A graduate of Eastman School of Music, Boone has toured and ...

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Radio

Mike Boone Featured on B.J. Jansen's Jazz Life Radio Show

Mike Boone Featured on B.J. Jansen's Jazz Life Radio Show

Source: JM Creative

B.J. Jansen interviewed Mike Boone on The Jazz Life radio show. The complete interview was broadcast on WPSC 88.7 FM, February 1st, 2009 during Jansen's exploration of Jazz in Philadelphia during the month of February. Jansen created his show, “The Jazz Life," to bring audiences to the next generation of jazz artists who struggle to receive airplay in the United States. The programming format of “The Jazz Life" features brand new content ...

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Fly With the Wind

BCM&D Records
2023

buy

Nine

Self Produced
2023

buy

A Song of Hope

Whaling City Sound
2021

buy

Secret Suite

Self Produced
2020

buy

Conspiracy

Wise Cat Records
2019

buy

Rewind

Love Records
2010

buy

The Nearness of You

From: Nine
By Mike Boone

All Members

From: Fly With the Wind
By Mike Boone

The Straggler

From: Secret Suite
By Mike Boone

Videos

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