Frank Cunimondo
Encyclopedia
Frank Cunimondo is an American
jazz
pianist
and educator based in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
, USA
.
and Errol 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.
, 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
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
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and educator based in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
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 JamalAhmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal is an innovative and influential American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. According to Stanley Crouch, Jamal is second in importance in the development of jazz after 1945 only to Charlie Parker...
and Errol Garner. He later attended Carnegie Tech, which subsequently became Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
.
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
Crawford Grill
Crawford Grill was a renowned jazz club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA's Hill District. Its heyday was the 1930s to 1950s.The club was founded by Gus Greenlee, who first made his reputation as a numbers runner and racketeer, then later as the owner of the Negro League baseball team the Pittsburgh...
. He often shared a stage with the young George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
.
In the 1950s, Frank Cunimondo moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
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 StittSonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was also one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums in his lifetime...
, Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
, Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon was an American jump blues singer.-Early life and career:James Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. He first attracted attention singing with Teddy Weatherford's band in Calcutta, India, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service during...
, Urbie Green
Urbie Green
Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green is an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle....
, Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
, Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson
Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni , better known by the stage name Louie Bellson , was an Italian-American jazz drummer...
, Joshua Redman
Joshua Redman
Joshua Redman is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who records for Nonesuch Records. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991.-Biography:...
, Phil Woods
Phil Woods
Philip Wells Woods is an American jazz bebop alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer.-Biography:...
and Frank Rosolino
Frank Rosolino
Frank Rosolino was an American jazz trombonist.- Biography :Born in Detroit, Michigan, Frank Rosolino studied the guitar with his father from the age of 9. He took up the trombone at age 14 while he was enrolled at Miller High School where he played with Milt Jackson in the school's stage band and...
. 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
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
.
In addition to performing, Frank Cunimondo has a long career teaching jazz piano. He has previously taught at Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
and currently teaches at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
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
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
.
Discography
- "Communication"
- "The Lamp Is Low"
- "The Frank Cunimondo Trio, Introducing Lynn Marino"
- "Echoes"
- "The Top Shelf Collection"
- "Sagittarius" M-105 Mondo Records (Lenny Rogers on Drums, Ray Russell on Bass)
- "Frank Cunimondo Plays George Benson - Live in ConcertFrank Cunimondo Plays George Benson - Live in ConcertFrank Cunimondo Plays George Benson - Live in Concert is the live tribute album of american jazz pianist Frank Cunimondo. All tracks were recorded live at Hyatt Hotel in 1978.-Track listing:# Wind Song# Affirmation# Blues Chaser# Nature Boy...
" - "It's You, It's Me"
- "Choice Cuts"
- "Totally Frank"
- "Suite for Dr. Martin Luther King" (Nathan DavisNathan Davis (saxophonist)Nathan Davis is an American hard bop jazz multi-instrumentalist who plays the tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet and flute...
album) - "Feelin' Good"
- "Sound Painting"