Mike Melvoin

Mike Melvoin (b. May 10, 1937, Oshkosh, Wisconsin) is an American jazz pianist.

Melvoin began on piano at age three. He studied English at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1959,^[1] but decided to pursue a career in music. After moving to Los Angeles in 1961, he played with Frank Rosolino, Leroy Vinnegar, Gerald Wilson, Paul Horn, Terry Gibbs, Joe Williams, Peggy Lee, Tom Waits and others. He worked extensively as a studio musician, in addition to playing in clubs in Los Angeles and accompanying singer Bill Henderson and playing with Herb Ellis and Plas Johnson on Concord Jazz releases.

His children Wendy, Susannah and Jonathan all became professional musicians.

Discography

as leader

• Keys To Your Mind (Liberty Records, 1966)
• Between The Two (Liberty, 1968)
• The Plastic Cow Goes Moooooog (Dot Records, 1969)
• Unknown Title (Discwasher, 1979)
• Redeye (Voss Records, 1988)
• The Capitol Sessions (with Charlie Haden and Bill Henderson) (Naim, 1999)
• Oh Baby (City Light Records, 2002)
• It's Always You (with Phil Woods) (City Light, 2003)
• Like Jazz (with David Basse) (City Light, 2003)
• Playing the Word (City Light, 2006)
• You Know (City Light, 2006)

As sideman

With Gábor Szabó

• Light My Fire (Impulse!, 1967) with Bob Thiele
• Wind, Sky and Diamonds (Impulse!, 1967)

References

• Scott Yanow, Mike Melvoin at Allmusic