Frank Cunimondo

Frank Cunimondo (born 1934) is an American jazz pianist and educator based in Pittsburgh,[1] Pennsylvania, USA.

Frank Cunimondo
Born1934
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresJazz, Salsa, Bossa nova
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsPiano, Keyboards
Years active1960s–present
LabelsMondo Records
Sound Idea
Underonesun
Movieplay Music
Associated actsBill Evans, Nathan Davis, George Benson
WebsiteOfficial website

Biography

He was born in Pittsburgh and began playing music at the age of 6 studying classical piano. As a teenager he made a transition to jazz. He attended George Westinghouse High School, where other notable jazz musicians had also been students including Ahmad Jamal and Erroll Garner. He later attended Carnegie Tech, which subsequently became Carnegie Mellon University.

In his early teens, he began to play professionally at a number of clubs around Pittsburgh. At 19, he toured a number of cities including Atlantic City and Miami. In Pittsburgh, he played at many local jazz haunts, most notably, The Crawford Grill. He often shared a stage with the young George Benson.

In the 1950s, Frank Cunimondo moved to New York City where he continued playing professionally and immersed himself into the jazz scene. He eventually returned to Pittsburgh permanently.

Works

Frank Cunimondo has a long discography, having recorded with nearly every artist from Pittsburgh. In addition, he has shared the stage with a number of jazz stars including: Sonny Stitt, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Urbie Green, Lee Konitz, Louie Bellson, Joshua Redman, Phil Woods and Frank Rosolino. The Frank Cunimondo Trio is also a fixture of the Pittsburgh Jazz scene. His most popular recording, "Feelin' Good" which he recorded with Lynn Marino, is an international hit and is distributed on MoviePlay Gold. The title track has also been sampled and used in a number of European dance mixes. He distributes most of his recordings through his record label Mondo Records.

He has made a number of television appearances including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

In addition to performing, Frank Cunimondo has a long career teaching jazz piano. He has previously taught at Duquesne University and currently teaches at the University of Pittsburgh[1] and at Carnegie Mellon.

In the 1980s he owned a jazz club in Pittsburgh called "Cunimondo's Keyboard Jazz Supper Club."

In 1989, he was voted "Best Jazz Pianist" in Pittsburgh. His style is most often compared to pianist Bill Evans.

Discography

Albums
Rel.TitleLabelCatalog NumberFormatsNotes
1968CommunicationMondo RecordsM-101LP-
1969The Lamp Is LowMondo RecordsM-102LP-
1971The Frank Cunimondo Trio, Introducing Lynn MarinoMondo RecordsM-103LP-
1971EchoesMondo RecordsM-104LP-
1975The Top Shelf CollectionSound IdeaS90175LP-
1975SagittariusMondo RecordsM-105LP-
1978Frank Cunimondo Plays George Benson - Live in ConcertMondo RecordsM-106LP-
1996It's You, It's MeMondo RecordsM-107CD-
19??Choice CutsMondo RecordsM-108CD-
2003Totally FrankMondo RecordsM-109CD-
2003Sound PaintingMondo RecordsM-110CD-
2018EpilogueMCG JazzM-111CD, Spotify-

Singles
YearTitleFrom the albumLabelFormatsNotes
1962Suddenly / I Didn't Plan It This Waynon-album singleUniversal7"Vocals by John Marino

Albums as sideman
YearPerformerTitleLabelFormatsNotes
1976Nathan DavisSuite for Dr. Martin Luther KingTomorrow International, Inc.LP-

Albums
Rel.TitleLabelCatalog NumberFormatsNotes
2000The Frank Cunimondo Trio, Introducing Lynn MarinoUnderonesunUOS001LP / UOS001CDLP, CD-
2001EchoesUnderonesunUOS002LP / UOS002CDLP, CD-
2001Frank Cunimondo Plays George Benson - Live in ConcertMondo RecordsM-106CD-
2001Feelin' GoodSound Hills / Movieplay-CDReissue of The Frank Cunimondo Trio, Introducing Lynn Marino

Singles
YearPerformerTitleTrack listing:LabelFormatsNotes
1997The Frank Cunimondo TrioWe've Only Just BegunWe've Only Just Begun
Soon It's Gonna Rain		Movieplay MusicCDIntroducing Lynn Marino
1997The Frank Cunimondo TrioFeelin' GoodFeelin' Good
Beyond The Clouds		Movieplay MusicCD-
1999The Frank Cunimondo TrioFeelin' Good (Feelin' Better Streamer Remix)Feelin' Good (Feelin' Better Streamer Remix)
Feelin' Good (Original Version)		Underonesun12"-

Albums as sideman
YearPerformerTitleLabelFormatsNotes
2006Nathan DavisSuite for Dr. Martin Luther KingPony CanyonCD-

Books

| 2005|| Frank Cunimondo || The Frank Cunimondo Jazz Chord System: An Aid to Improvisation For All Instruments - Volume 1, Level 1 || Cunimondo Publishing || - |}

References
  1. Santella, Jim (1997-11-01). "CD/LP Review: It's you It's me". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.