interview with Mike Armando

Have any of you played in other bands? Yes
How is it that you started playing music? I started playing when I was about 14 years old.  I used to listen back than to a lot of rock.  When the Yard birds and Cream came out.  I started playing there music.  It was a learning experience.
What are your names? / Who plays what? / Mike Armando - guitar, Mike Alexander - sax, Andrew Golba - bass, Joe Izzo - drums
Have you had other previous members? Yes 
Did you make music even when you were young? Yes
Where are you from? New York City
What year did the band form? 2011
What's your style of genre? Jazz/ Jazz funk, blues
What inspires you? Nature and God
How often and where do you rehearse? NYC once a month
How have you developed since you started with the music? I developed my own style of playing guitar.  It takes many years to do.  Some musicians can do it some musicians cannot.  You have to think outside the box and not be afraid to be creative and try new things.  You must try to be free when you play you cannot get caught up with what everyone else is playing.  Try to be yourself. 
Do you have other interests of work outside the band?  Not really I tend to focus on music.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? It is not easy finding a booking agent.  Most agents are looking for how many people can you draw.  I just got a new booking agent and hopefully he can get the band work.
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that?  I have a label that I am working with now.  MJA Records.  I put out many records for that label. I am always looking for other labels.
What made you decide to make this music?  My mother always wanted me to play.  She was a great singer and always encouraged me to be a musician.
What are your songs about? My songs are about life.  The blues, the funky city, urban sounds about life.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? All of our music is instrumental.  Our instruments are our voice. Just like a person singing.  You can tell your story with your musical instruments.
Do you compose in a certain environment? No
Have you done any covers live? Some tunes most are original compositions.
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs? When I was in Screamin Jay Hawkins band back in the 70's. He had that hit song "I Put A Spell On You"  I would say about 5,000 people attended.  The least was 10 people many years ago at a small club.  WOW that was a shock.
What ages are most of your concert attendants? Anywhere from 25 to 75
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary? Some tunes we keep in the set and add new tunes. We vary.
Do you have a regular place you play live often? No our gigs tend to change.
What was your first gig like? If I go back and think?  We played at this funky bar and the bartender who was going to pay us left and we could not find him and did not get paid for the gig.  We played at this one party and a fight broke out we almost got our equipment destroyed.
What was your latest gig? We played 3 O clock in the morning
Have you had to cancel a gig? No
Where have you played live this year? Iridium jazz club NYC, The Footlight, NYC, many winey's"s on Eastern Long Island. 
Where do you plan to gig the coming year? The Club Bonafide, NYC
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? Back in the 1990's CD's.
Where can people buy your merchandise? If they want to download some music they can go to CD Baby.com or at gigs unless they want to email me I can sell some CD's.
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? It is tough for the musician to make any money.  CD baby streaming you are lucky to make a few pennies for your music, not good.  It would be good downloading music if the rates they pay were higher.
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this?  For good and bad.  The industry has to do a lot better job paying the musician who create's music.
What do you think of my work? I think you are doing a great job. It shows you are a music artist trying to help other musicians which is great.  You do not see much of that today.
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business? I do not know if it will help or not I would hope it does.
Do you have any role models or idols? Yes, Guitarist Pat Martino, BB King, Mike Bloomfield, Kenny Burrell.
Why do you think that they exist? Being in the place at the right time, a little bit of luck, hard work and dedication.
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? Older bands. 
What have been your biggest obstacles? Finding a good booking agent.

What advice would you give other bands or artists? Keep playing no matter how bad things feel.  Always follow your dreams.  If you don't follow them it will not happen.  
How do you get psyched for a gig? It is just natural like breathing.  It is a job.
Do you have any new material? Yes
What are your web sites?http://mjajazz.wixsite.com/mike-armando
https://www.reverbnation.com/mikearmando
How can people reach you? My email address mjajazz@optonline or [email protected]
What are your plans for the future? Keep trying to play better everyday.  Try to learn new things and create new chops. 
Do you have something to add? Here is a little bio about myself: 
Early in his musical career, Mike was the guitarist for Screamin Jay Hawkins. ( I Put A Spell On You). Mike Armando has produced 13 CDs on the mja Record 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. Mike has worked with many 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 Mike Armando’s mja release “The Count Down”. Mike Armando has performed at the Iridium in NYC and has performed on radio and TV stations across the country.

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