Mark Levine, a Latin jazz great, dies at 83
Mark Levine, a pillar of the Bay Area jazz music community for decades, died on Jan. 27 of pneumonia.
The acclaimed musician, who was also a noted educator and author, was 83.
Word of his death spread quickly on social media, with many friends and admirers posting tributes to the influential jazz musician who performed with such greats as Woody Shaw, Pete Escovedo, Stan Getz, Cal Tjader, Houston Person and Bobby Hutcherson.
“Mourning the loss of one of our Bay Area musical icons, maestro Mark Levine,” Bay Area pianistcomposer Rebeca Mauleon posted on Facebook on Jan. 28. “His supreme touch and harmonic sensibility were endless sources of inspiration.”
Levine, a New Hampshire native who moved west to the Bay Area in the '70s, performed on both piano and valve trombone. He was a noted sideman as well as an accomplished bandleader. His discography includes such popular offerings as 1985's “Smiley and Me,” 1997's “One Notch Up” and 2000's “Hey, It's Me.”
His 2003 release, “Isla,” received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2004.
“The passing of Mark Levine is a big loss for the Latin jazz world and the Bay Area,” Bay Area musician Danilo Paiz posted on Facebook. “My memories of working with him go way back to when he was the piano player and I was the bongocero for Benny Velarde's band playing at the Reunion
in San Francisco on Union Street.”
Noted Latin jazz bandleader Pete Escovedo remarked that Levine was “such a great musician and great human being.”
“So many fond memories of playing together and just hanging out. To be with Mark was always an education,” posted Escovedo, referring to Levine as “a true Latin jazz player.” “Make more music in Heaven my friend. Thank you for your contribution to the music we all love.”
Michael Spiro is another local Latin jazz musician who speaks glowingly of Levine's contribution to the art form.
“One could legitimately argue that Mark Levine was the truest Latin jazz artist of our time (with all due respect of course to the fellas from Fort Apache, Chucho, etc.),” Spiro posted on Facebook. “He didn't just play standards in clave (an Afrocuban rhythm), or music with instrumental solos over a few chords in clave, he played seriously harmonically complex tunes in clave. He didn't just re-harmonize standards, he played modern jazz in clave … .”
Besides his towering musical career, Levine was known for his generous spirit and his willingness to help out other musicians.
“I'm so deeply saddened by the passing of truly great musician and person, Mark Levine,” posted Phil Grenadier, a former member of the Mark Levine Quintet. “He was one of the most instrumental reasons for me to continue playing music as he taught me so much in my foundational period. He put me in his quintet when he had to quit playing trombone.
“So many fantastic memories together, too many to recount, but I am eternally grateful to Mark Levine. I told him many times, but he always demurred.”
Levine's mark on music stretched far beyond the stage and recording studio. He also published two highly acclaimed method books in the '90s — “The Jazz Piano Book” and “The Jazz Theory Book.”
He was also a noted educator, who taught at Diablo Valley College, Mills College, San Francisco Conservatory of Music and other schools.
Levine is survived by his wife, Norma Smith.