Michael Abene

Pianist Mike Abene is commonly overlooked because of his function accompanying singers so when a sideman, but he’s a talented and versatile pianist. He made an appearance early on on the Newport Jazz Celebration with Marshall Brown’s Newport Youngsters Band. After participating in the Manhattan College of Music, he previously an extended stint as pianist and arranger with Maynard Ferguson’s Orchestra (1961-1965). After that, Abene spent some time working within a many jazz-oriented configurations with such performers as Anita O’Day, Chris Connor, Joe Williams, Johnny Hartman, Susannah McCorkle, and Jackie Paris with groupings led by Benny Goodman, Pal Wealthy, Clark Terry, Don Ellis, Al Cohn/Zoot Sims, Lee Konitz, and Phil Woods. Furthermore, he has produced his primary living composing jingles for the studios. Abene led his initial recording program (a single piano outing) for Stash in 1984.