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Frank Cunimondo

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Frank Cunimondo
Born1934
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresJazz, Salsa, Bossa nova
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Piano, Keyboards
Years active1960s–present
LabelsMondo Records
Sound Idea
Underonesun
Movieplay Music
WebsiteOfficial website

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

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

Original Issues

Albums

Rel. Title Label Catalog Number Formats Notes
1968 Communication Mondo Records M-101 LP -
1969 The Lamp Is Low Mondo Records M-102 LP -
1971 The Frank Cunimondo Trio, Introducing Lynn Marino Mondo Records M-103 LP -
1971 Echoes Mondo Records M-104 LP -
1975 The Top Shelf Collection Sound Idea S90175 LP -
1975 Sagittarius Mondo Records M-105 LP -
1978 Frank Cunimondo Plays George Benson - Live in Concert Mondo Records M-106 LP -
1996 It's You, It's Me Mondo Records M-107 CD -
19?? Choice Cuts Mondo Records M-108 CD -
2003 Totally Frank Mondo Records M-109 CD -
2003 Sound Painting Mondo Records M-110 CD -
2018 Epilogue MCG Jazz M-111 CD, Spotify -

Singles

Year Title From the album Label Formats Notes
1962 Suddenly / I Didn't Plan It This Way non-album single Universal 7" Vocals by John Marino

Albums as sideman

Year Performer Title Label Formats Notes
1976 Nathan Davis Suite for Dr. Martin Luther King Tomorrow International, Inc. LP -

Reissues

Albums

Rel. Title Label Catalog Number Formats Notes
2000 The Frank Cunimondo Trio, Introducing Lynn Marino Underonesun UOS001LP / UOS001CD LP, CD -
2001 Echoes Underonesun UOS002LP / UOS002CD LP, CD -
2001 Frank Cunimondo Plays George Benson - Live in Concert Mondo Records M-106 CD -
2001 Feelin' Good Sound Hills / Movieplay - CD Reissue of The Frank Cunimondo Trio, Introducing Lynn Marino

Singles

Year Performer Title Track listing: Label Formats Notes
1997 The Frank Cunimondo Trio We've Only Just Begun We've Only Just Begun
Soon It's Gonna Rain		 Movieplay Music CD Introducing Lynn Marino
1997 The Frank Cunimondo Trio Feelin' Good Feelin' Good
Beyond The Clouds		 Movieplay Music CD -
1999 The Frank Cunimondo Trio Feelin' Good (Feelin' Better Streamer Remix) Feelin' Good (Feelin' Better Streamer Remix)
Feelin' Good (Original Version)		 Underonesun 12" -

Albums as sideman

Year Performer Title Label Formats Notes
2006 Nathan Davis Suite for Dr. Martin Luther King Pony Canyon CD -

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. ^ a b Santella, Jim (1997-11-01). "CD/LP Review: It's you It's me". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
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