Billy Mintz – Mintz Quartet

Recorded in one night, the easy rapport and trust evident on Mintz Quartet reflects the long-term musical relationships Mr. Mintz has with the band members. Underground saxophone legend John Gross (a Portland, OR resident) has been a colleague for almost thirty years. (Their 2005 duo CD on Origin Records, Beautiful You, also consists entirely of Mintz compositions.) Bassist Putter Smith is another long-time West Coast colleague who played with Billy in Alan Broadbent’s trio. Billy has played in the trio of New York pianist/organist Roberta Piket for roughly ten years. (Mintz also encouraged her to sing on Destiny.)
Billy Mintz was born in Queens, New York. During his formative years in New York City, he played and recorded with the Lee Konitz Nonet, Kundalini with Perry Robinson and Badal Roy, the Eddie Daniels Quartet, Gloria Gaynor, the Steve Tintweiss Quartet, and the Harold Danko Quartet.
In 1981 Mr. Mintz relocated to Los Angeles where he was a member of the Mike Garson Trio with Stanley Clarke, the Kim Richmond Sextet, the Bobby Shew Quintet, the Joey Sellers' Jazz Aggregation, and the Vinny Golia Quartet. He also performed several times with the Mose Allison Trio and did a stint with the Merv Griffin Show band. In 1988 he toured Europe with saxophonist Charles Lloyd.
Since 2003 Mr. Mintz has lived in New York where he has recorded and performed with the Hal Galper Trio, the Russ Lossing Trio, the Mark Feldman-Sylvie Courvoisier Quartet and others. He also leads a ten-piece ensemble (the Two Bass Band) and has performed numerous solo drum set concerts worldwide.