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Mike Renzi

An immensely talented musician, Renzi was influenced in his early years as a pianist by Bill Evans. After living and working in and around Providence, he graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music in 1973 and Berklee College Of Music the following year. During these years of study he worked with local bands and as accompanist to visiting artists. Among these was Sylvia Sims and it was as a direct result of this engagement that he was hired to work with Mel Tormé. In 1976 he moved to New York City and from the late 70s onwards through the next two decades and into the early years of the twenty-first century, he appeared on scores of albums, sometimes only as pianist but most often also as arranger. Renzi also plays keyboards and occasionally guitar. Developing his own, hard bop style, Renzi also became a much sought after arranger. As a brief listing of the numerous artists with whom he has worked will show, many of them are singers with whom he established a special rapport, and in some cases has acted as musical director: Ruth Brown, Laverne Butler, Ann Hampton Callaway, Diahann Carroll, Freddy Cole, Cynthia Crane, Meredith D’Ambrosio, Blossom Dearie, Scott Hamilton, Lena Horne, Etta Jones, Jack Jones, Eartha Kitt, Steve LaSpina, Cleo Laine, Peggy Lee, Jay Leonhart, Gloria Lynne, Maureen McGovern, Liza Minnelli, Gerry Mulligan, Mark Murphy, Houston Person, John Pizzarelli, Annie Ross, George Shearing, an eight-week tour with Frank Sinatra, Carol Sloane, Grady Tate.

Although most often heard on albums by others, Renzi has also made a small number of fine albums as leader. He has also been musical director for many years on Sesame Street, writing most of the incidental music. Another long-term television project has been his work as one of four resident composers on All My Children. Highly respected by his peers, Renzi brings to all that he does high standards of musical excellence.

Carol Sloane: Carol Sloane Live At Birdland

Read "Carol Sloane Live At Birdland" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
May 26, 2022

Was there ever a more storied exponent of the Great American Songbook than Carol Sloane? She started singing professionally at the age of fourteen, made her first recording in 1959, was the “gal singer" for Arthur Godfrey for a spell, and went on to record virtually any tune you can think of (and, more than likely, a few you cannot). Her voice, shimmering and luminous, worked especially well on ballads, but her up-tempo material was equally compelling. She sang with ...

Album Review

Mike Renzi with Jim Porcella: Christmas Is: December Duets

Read "Christmas Is: December Duets" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
December 7, 2020

Now here's some music to cozy up to. You can almost feel the warmth of a fire place, smell some spruce and pine, see the falling snowflakes and taste the heaven of hot chocolate in these sounds. Master pianist Mike Renzi, a septuagenarian mainstay of the vocal community whose work has supported everyone from Mel Torme to Lena Horne, and singer Jim Porcella, a lesser-know talent hiding in plain sight, join forces to spread some cheer on Christmas Is: December ...

Recording

Get In The Christmas Spirit With Mike Renzi And Jim Porcella's "Christmas Is: December Duets"

Source: Mixed Media Promotion
October 11, 2020

Do you know Mike Renzi? The immense musical talent has won seven Emmys for musical direction, including wins for his work on “Sesame Street" and the soap opera “All My Children.” Also noteworthy: Mike has backed some amazing talent, including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, as well as Tony’s work with Lady Gaga at the Grammys in 2015, appearing in an Irving Berlin tribute at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, dedicating a new Bennett-Sinatra Studio in Queens, and performing with ...
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Performance / Tour

Shawnn Monteiro "To Carmen With Love" Tribute With Mike Renzi at Chan's Fine Oriental Dining on

Source: Ginny Shea
February 28, 2015

Shawnn Monteiro Italian Tour Reunion featuring recent Grammy winner Mike Renzi (piano), Dave Zinno (bass), Steve Langone (drums) Saturday, February 28, 8pm $15 Chan's Fine Oriental Dining 267 Main St. Woonsocket, RI 02895 401-765-1900 A Tribute to Jazz, A Tribute to a Talent, and a Tribute to One Artist’s Effort to Keep a Memory Alive Tributes to the jazz greats of yesterday, performed by the artists of today, are many. But few of today’s ...
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Recording

Mike Renzi & Blossom Dearie Tweedledum & Tweedledee On CD and On Sale!

Source: All About Jazz
June 21, 2006

Mike Renzi and Blossom Dearie recorded a special album: Tweedledum & Tweedledee (Two People Who Resemble Each Other, In This Case Musically) . For its 15th anniversary we have updated it and released it at a special sale price.

Mike Renzi (Tweedledum) served as the musical director and created the elegant orchestrations, and Blossom Dearie (Tweedledee) played her special style of piano coupled with her vocals. Songs include: “I Don't Remember," “Ev'rybody Loves Jobim," “I Did It All For You," ...
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