Mike Armando

Jazz/blues guitarist Mike Armando was born and grew up in Brooklyn & Woodhaven Queens, NY. He Attended Franklin K. Lane High School. In the early years Mike joined the U.S. Navy during the Viet Nam War. He served his country for 4 years and still performed when he had time. Times were tough but he still kept playing his music. He was the guitarist for the late Screamin' Jay Hawkins for three years.

In February 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. 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 shared the stage with major musical acts such as 5 Satins, Critters, Marveletts, Bobby Lewis, Velon’s, Scott Mckenzie and many more.

One of Mike's recording's," Half Stepin" on the mja Record label, a jazz/blues recording was rated one of the top ten records on radio play list in Bill Board Magazine. Mike has recorded with drumming great Bob Moses. He has performed on radio and tv stations across the country. WOWI Radio music director Larry Dinger, Norfolk, Va. held many events at the station were Mike performed live. Mike has performed live events at WPKN, Jazz Advantures with radio host Phil Bowler in Bridgeport, CT. Mike Armando recordings on the mja Record label have been played throughout the USA and in Europe. Mike has produced a number of jazz concerts with vocalist Nancy Monroe at the Blue Note in NYC and at the Event Center in Lake Grove LI along with jazz guitarist Dave Stryker hosted by WPKN Radio Jazz Adventure MC Phil Bowler.

Mike Armando 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 "Better Believe It" CD 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 Oklahama Jazz Hall of Fame on November 16, 2010.

Mike Armando was the producer for all three of Artt's CD's. Mike has recorded with the jazz group In The Moment with bassist Andrew Golba and drummer Bob Moses and Mike's latest release The Countdown. 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. Mike has performed at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May, N.J. backing saxophonist Tim Price. 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 & Bob Moses who recorded on the mja release with David Alan Gross "The Final Answer to Everything".

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.

Awards

MICHAEL ARMANDO, President & CEO of MJA Records, has recorded many fine jazz and blues artists for the MJA label. And over the years, has been instrumental in launching the recording careers of young musicians deserving of wider recognition. What comes to mind when thinking of MJA is Chet Baker’s closest friend, legendary Be Bop drummer, Artt Frank who performed with the great lyrical trumpet icon on and off for many years. Michael, a jazz/blues guitarist himself, first formed the MJA Record label back in 1973, and was one of the first artists to record for the new company. Mike was born in New York City and has paid his dues many times over. He has always loved jazz and blues music because “it comes straight from the soul-and the soul is from God.” Music is his life, and he thanks God for the opportunity of being able to help other musicians to express themselves through this music called Be Bop and lyrical jazz. Mike has produced many jazz concerts for MJA Records including the MJA Jazz & Blues Festival in which Artt Frank’s quintet was the featured group. “I am deeply proud to be included on the prestigious Honorary Director’s list of the Chet Baker Foundation, and to be a part of the music of Chet Baker and Artt Frank.”