mike armando

Mike Armando

Mike Armando was the guitarist for Screamin' Jay Hawkins during the 1970's. ( I Put A Spell On You). In 1976 Screamin' Jay Hawkins suffered facial injuries when he was burned by one of his flaming props while performing with his guitarist Mike Armando at the Virginia Theater in Alexandria, Va. During the concert Screamin' Jay Hawkins had to be rushed off stage. Jay kept Screamin to Mike “keep on playing”. Mike shared the stage with major musical acts such as 5 Satins, Critters, Marveletts, Bobby Lewis, Velon’s, Scott Mckenzie and many more. Mike has produced 15 CDs on the mja label with such artists as Grammy award winner Fred Lipsius, from Blood Sweet & Tears, Nancy Monroe, David Allan Gross, Chris Clark. Pat Morrissey, Artt Frank. One of the tracks from Fred Lipsius, mja release's "Better Believe It" was released and distributed throughout the world on MCA Records. mja recording artist, Artt Frank who was the drummer for the late great Chet Baker was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame on November 16, 2010.  Mike Armando was the producer for all of Artt's three CD's. Mike has performed at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May, N.J. backing saxophonist Tim Price.

 

Mike Armando's years of being the guitarist for Screamin' Jay Hawkins during the 1970's has been written about in a book written by author Steve Bergsman titled "I Put A Spell On You: The Bizarre Life of Screamin' Jay Hawkins" The book is published by Feral House. 

Mike has worked with other great musician's in his recording and musical career with the likes of Eddie Gomez, Marcus McLaurine, Michael Cochrane, Mike Stern, drumming great Bob Moses who recorded on the mja release David Alan Gross "The Final Answer to Everything".  Bob Moses  has recorded on two of Mike Armando's latest CD releases, In The Moment and The Countdown on mja Records. One of Mike's first Recordings Half Steppen was rated one of the top ten records on radio playlist in Bill Board Magazine. Mike Armando has worked with Actress Sharon Stone along with drumming great Artt Frank on his CD release, Waltz for Sharon Stone.  Mike was the producer for Artt's CD.

 

Review

Jazz/Blues guitarist Mike Armando has paid his dues several times over. And you can hear it in his playing. My one time contemporary, Charlie Bird Parker once said, “You can’t play it if you haven’t lived it.” When you listen to Mike, you’ll will know from the very first note that he lived what he plays. There’s a seasoned unfiltered quality in his phrasing that awakens our ears to his affinity for the real deal form of jazz. With Mike, its all about feeling, just as it was with all of the great players of the past, and the few greats who are on the scene today. The sounds Mike has taken in and absorbed through the years didn’t come from any music school class, but straight from his life’s experiences, and from hanging around the great jazz clubs in New York City; and being able to see some of the greats perform up close and personal. Mike has a way of drawing his listeners in and making them a personal part of what he and his group are playing. Mike has surrounded himself with some really fine jazz musicians.

                                                                             Artt Frank - drummer for the late great Chet Baker.

 

Albums produced by Mike Armando

• Half Steppin (1973): His own jazz/blues album, one of the first releases on MJA Records.

• Better Believe It (1990s): A CD by Grammy winner Fred Lipsius of Blood, Sweat & Tears. A track from this album was distributed worldwide by MCA Records.

• In The Moment (2012): An album by Mike Armando, Andrew Golba, and Ra-Kalam Bob Moses.

• The Count Down (2014): His own solo album, featuring musicians like Boris Kurganov and Ra-Kalam Bob Moses.

• Waltz for Sharon Stone: A CD by drummer Artt Frank, which Armando also produced.

• Three Artt Frank CDs: Mike Armando produced all three of Artt Frank's CDs on the MJA label.

• The Final Answer to Everything: A release on the MJA label for artist David Allan Gross.

• Other artists produced for the MJA label
  Armando's website notes that he has produced 15 CDs on the MJA label, including for the following artists:

  • Nancy Monroe

  • Chris Clark

  • Pat Morrissey

  Website: https://mjajazz.wixsite.com/mi...

• mja Records: https://mjajazz.wixsite.com/mj...

Career and Legacy

• Early Career: Armando grew up in Brooklyn and Woodhaven Queens, NY, and served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, continuing to play music when possible. He developed his jazz and blues style by frequenting New York City jazz clubs.

• Screamin' Jay Hawkins: He gained prominence as the guitarist for the legendary Screamin' Jay Hawkins. A notable incident occurred in 1976 when Hawkins was burned by flaming props during a performance, and Armando continued to play at Hawkins' instruction. Armando's experiences with Hawkins are detailed in the book I Put A Spell On You: The Bizarre Life of Screamin' Jay Hawkins by Steve Bergsman.

• Resurrection Band: After Hawkins' death, Armando formed "The Resurrection of Screamin' Jay Hawkins Band" to honor and preserve the artist's legacy, performing classics such as "I Put A Spell On You" and "Alligator Wine".

• Solo Work and Production: Armando has produced 15 albums on his own mja label, working with Grammy Award winners such as Fred Lipsius from Blood, Sweat & Tears. He has released his own jazz/blues albums, including The Count Down and singles like "Funk a Lunk".

• Collaborations: He has shared stages and worked in the studio with a range of major musical acts and respected musicians, including the 5 Satins, Eddie Gomez, Mike Stern, and Artt Frank.