Mark Levine

Having achieved equal mastery of piano and valve trombone, Mark Levine has long excelled at this uncommon pairing of instruments. He completed a music degree at Boston University in 1960. Shortly thereafter he settled in New York, where freelance work brought him together with Houston Person in 1966, Mongo Santamaria from 1969 to 1970, Willie Bobo from 1971 to 1974, Joe Henderson, and Gabor Szabo. In the mid-1970s Levine moved to San Francisco and performed with Woody Shaw during 1975-1976, the Blue Mitchell/Harold Land Quintet from 1975 to 1979, Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Luis Gasca, and Cal Tjader between 1979 and 1983. Since that time he has concentrated chiefly on leading his own ensembles. For several years he downplayed piano in an attempt to sustain himself solely as a valve trombonist, only to conclude that piano offered more consistent employment. Mark Levine has recorded as a leader for Catalyst in 1976 and for Concord in 1983 and 1985.