Here is a continuation of the series of entries from George A. Borgman's article Memories of a Jazz Journalist from 2004.
Pianist Mark Shane (New York)
broke me up with his story about playing for a dance at a New Hampshire estate, where the dancers and
the bandleader ran outdoors, stripped naked, and jumped into the pool while the
bandsmen, even though distracted, played on.
Mark Shane has a couple of piano influences that he acknowledges. His primary one is Teddy Wilson although when he plays solo piano he admits that Art Tatem is also up there.
Shane started his career playing in dance bands in the New York City area. he has played with a slew of well known jazz and big band artists including Benny Goodman, Doc Cheatham, Wild Bill Davison, Bob Wilbur, Kenny Davern, Peanuts Hucko, and Scott Hamilton among others. He's also performed for the soundtracks of several feature films including The Cotton Club, Working Girl and Biloxi Blues. He has collaborated on several albums with singer Terry Blaine.
Here he plays at Birdland, on March 4, 2009
