Mike Mainieri


Michael T. Mainieri Jr. is an American vibraphonist known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead. He is married to singer-songwriter and harpist Dee Carstensen.

Biography

Mainieri was a pioneer in introducing an electronic vibraphone, known as a synth-vibe, and has recorded with such musicians as Buddy Rich, Wes Montgomery and Jeremy Steig. He performed for a live album by Laura Nyro and was featured on several tracks from the Dire Straits album Love Over Gold, as well as on "Ride Across the River" on the album Brothers in Arms. He performed on the albums Heads by Bob James, Heart to Heart by David Sanborn, and Tiger in the Rain by Michael Franks.
He has also released numerous albums and videos as a leader for a variety of labels, most notably his 1980 album for Warner Bros. entitled Wanderlust, which featured Michael Brecker and other members of Steps Ahead. He produced three albums for Carly Simon. Mainieri married singer-songwriter/harpist Dee Carstensen in 1993.

Discography

As leader

Studio albums

With Aerosmith
With Manny Albam
With George Benson
With Stephen Bishop
With Kenny Burrell
With Marc Cohn
With Paul Desmond
With Dire Straits
With Eliane Elias
With Art Farmer
With Michael Franks
With Urbie Green
With Tim Hardin
With Bob James
With Billy Joel
With Etta Jones
With Mark Knopfler
With Nils Lofgren
With Pat Martino
With Paul McCartney
With Brother Jack McDuff
With Don McLean
With Marcus Miller
With Wes Montgomery
With Laura Nyro
With Buddy Rich
With Linda Ronstadt
With David Sanborn
With Carly Simon
With Paul Simon
With Chris Smither
With Sonny Stitt
With Livingston Taylor
With Tony Orlando and Dawn
With Kazumi Watanabe