finetune artist: Bob Mintzer

b. 27 January 1953, New Rochelle, Westchester, New York, USA. Interested in music from childhood, Mintzer began serious studies shortly before he left high school. He went to Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, by which time he was becoming adept on tenor saxophone and was also taking an interest in arranging. Fellow students at Interlochen included Peter Erskine and two sons of Dave Brubeck. Mintzer then studied and played, mostly clarinet, at Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Connecticut, then went to the Manhattan School of Music in New York. However, the active New York music scene proved to be a greater attraction and in 1974 he went on the road with Eumir Deodato and the following year began a two-year stint with Buddy Rich where his arranging talents blossomed. After leaving Rich he worked regularly with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Mintzer continued to develop as an arranger and preferred the context of a big band, playing with Stone Alliance, and the big bands of Sam Jones and Jaco Pastorius. In 1984 he formed his own big band before becoming a regular member of the popular Yellowjackets.

Listen to Bob Mintzer at Finetune.

My Favorite Things
New Mambo
El Caborojeno
April In Paris
Meeting of the Minds