Mario is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader based in New Orleans and was regular on the HBO series Tremé. He developed his chops here, in his hometown Chicago, at Fred Anderson's legendary Velvet Lounge. He has been compared to the genius of Miles Davis and the leadership and insight of Art Blakely. Mario fuses the art of jazz music with the soul and freedom of New Orleans.
Abney has been featured in the Rochester Jazz Festival, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

He has shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis, Donald Harrison, George Benson, Cyril Neville, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Nicholas Payton.