Bassist/composer Mario Pavone who turned 80 on November 11th died on Saturday morning, May 15, peacefully, after 17 years of co-existing with cancer. But, like the postman undaunted by rain, sleet, snow or hail, nothing– not even this– could keep him from completing his mission, just one more album, this one dedicated to his granddaughter who died suddenly at age 23. Just a few weeks before his death, he made his way from his Florida home on Madeira Beach to a sound studio in Tampa to oversee the mixing of his last opus. He recorded it in February in New York City with his last and lately favorite trio, the Dialect Trio with Matt Mitchell on piano and Tyshawn Sorey on drums.
Litchfield Jazz hosted the group to kick off its Litchfield Jazz Presents live stream series from Telefunken Soundstage in South Windsor CT. The event, streamed on October 23rd, marked his 80th birthday and featured an interview with Public Radio personality and long-time fan of Mario’s, John Dankosky. It would be his last concert.
Mario Pavone fell in love with the bass in college while studying engineering, a skill he’d never practice as his fate was sealed in 1961 when he heard John Coltrane play at the Village Vanguard. When Coltrane died, this fledgling engineer put down his slide rule, walked out of his office, and went to Coltrane’s funeral. He never looked back, not once in his 57-year career as an internationally respected bassist.
Pavone had been part of many pivotal milestones in avant-garde jazz with other
great innovators. In the 70s he played with Wadada Leo Smith, Anthony Braxton, Bill Dixon, Paul Bley, Dewey Redman, Carla Bley and others. By the mid 80s he was part of the “downtown scene” centered around the Knitting Factory in New York. It was there he met the brilliant alto saxophonist who became Lionel Hampton’s arranger and music director at 21, Thomas Chapin. The meeting led to the formation of a trio that recorded and toured worldwide for six years until leukemia claimed Chapin’s life at 40. Litchfield Jazz had the honor of presenting Chapin with Pavone on the first Litchfield Jazz Festival in 1996 and then Pavone with Chapin’s band the very next year. In ‘96 some of the audience looked a bit bewildered. In ‘97 they gave a standing ovation! Mario Pavone performed on the Litchfield Jazz Festival 10 times in 25 years.
After Chapin’s passing, Pavone launched a touring and recording career with many younger players including Tony Malaby, Steven Bernstein, Gerald Cleaver, Peter Madsen, Michael Sarin and the aforementioned Tyshawn Sorey and Matt Mitchell.
Mario Pavone was the recipient of a Chamber Music America/Doris Duke New Works Grant and a Connecticut Commission on the Arts Distinguished Artists award among other honors. He made more than 30 critically acclaimed recordings as a leader. A Renaissance man, he became both an avid gardener and cook in later life and a photographer whose work graced the covers of dozens of albums.
Mario had a quarter century affiliation with Litchfield Performing Arts/Litchfield Jazz. He served as a board member, and both board president and vice president over the years. He was a faculty member of Litchfield Jazz Camp from its inception and partnered with me when I was the fledgling artistic director of the Litchfield Jazz Festival with a lot to learn. I was infinitely grateful for his mentorship, his comradeship and his love.
Pavone’s dedication to cutting edge music, and his unique take on the bass, its performance and composition never faltered. And he never tired of showing us all—if we were willing to take a deep dive and really listen—he would take us along for a ride we’d never forget. Godspeed Mario.
Vita West Muir
Founder/Executive Director, Litchfield Jazz