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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMABERN, Harold(b 20 March 1936, Memphis TN; d 17 September 2019, New Jersey) Piano, composer. Self-taught as a teenager, then influenced by Phineas Newborn; moved to Chicago '54 and studied with Ahmad Jamal, to NYC '59; recorded with Walter Perkins, Farmer/Golson Jazztet, J. J. Johnson, Wes Montgomery, others. Highly regarded by other musicians; worked as accompanist for Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Arthur Prysock. Own albums on Prestige A Few Miles From Memphis, Rakin' And Scrapin', Workin' And Wailin' '68-9 (all with George Coleman); Greasy Kid Stuff (with Lee Morgan) '68-70. He recorded with Stanley Cowell's Piano Choir, with Billy Harper in Japan '77; then his own Pisces Calling c.'80 on Trident. Straight Street was a trio on DIW with Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette, The Leading Man '93 on Columbia a trio with the right guests on a few tracks. On Sackville: Live At Cafe Des Copains, Philadelphia Bound '93 (duo with Kieren Overs), For Phineas '95 a two-piano duet with Geoff Keezer (b 21 November 1970, Eau Claire WI; own albums on Sackville, DIW, Sunnyside, Blue Note). For the Japanese DIW label Mabern made Straight Street '89 with Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette and Mabern's Graveyard '96 with Christian McBride and Tony Reedus; he then signed with Venus for several more. He kept telling stories with impish wit at the keyboard; a live album was made at Smalls in 2012. |