Mark Levine

Born 4th October, 1938. Died January 27, 2022. Pianist, valve trombonist, composer. Mark Levine has seemingly mastered the unusual double of both piano and valve trombone, being equally and sufficiently adept on both to have produced albums on either instrument. Levine graduated from Boston University in 1960 with a music degree. He moved to New York shortly afterwards, freelancing and playing with a variety of top players including Houston Person (1966), Mongo Santamaria (1969-70), Willie Bobo (1971-74), Joe Henderson and Gabor Szabo. Levine relocated to San Francisco in the mid-1970's where he played with Woody Shaw (1975-76), the Blue Mitchell/Harold Land Quintet (1975-79), Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Luis Gasca, Cal Tjader (1979-83). Since then Levine has primarily led his own groups. For a few years the piano was put on the back burner as he sought to make a living as a valve trombonist. However, he eventually came to realize there was more work as a pianist. He later achieved international fame as music educator with his books "The Jazz Piano Book" and "The Jazz Theory Book". Mark Levine has led sets for Catalyst (1976) and Concord (1983 and 1985).