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Billy Mitchell (jazz pianist)

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Name
  
Billy Mitchell

Instruments
  
Piano, keyboards

Role
  
Musical Artist

Years active
  
1970–present

Record label
  
Pausa Records

Website
  
www.billy-mitchell.com


Born
  
November 23, 1943 (age 80) Tarrytown, New York, United States (
1943-11-23
)

Occupation(s)
  
Musician, producer, arranger, author, community activist

Labels
  
Pausa Records, Vista Records

Genres
  
Jazz, Smooth jazz, Swing music

Birth name
  
William Allen Mitchell

The billy mitchell group litte sunflower


William Allen Mitchell (born November 23, 1943) is an American jazz pianist, music producer, composer, and author. He is also known for his community work with at-risk youth.

Contents

Early life

Mitchell was born November 23, 1943, in Tarrytown, New York, and raised in Buffalo. His father was a Baptist minister and community activist. Mitchell was introduced to the piano as a child by his mother, but resisted all formal instruction. Instead, he learned to play the piano by listening to the music and jazz recordings of the day. Mitchell attended Morehouse College in the early '60s, where he majored in history and political science. Between classes, he would sneak into the college’s music department to play jazz, which was not allowed in the music building. Mitchell joined an off-campus jazz group, performing with a band before an audience for the first time in a local talent show. In search of a career in music, Mitchell moved to Los Angeles in 1970. He formed The Billy Mitchell Trio in the 1970s, which later became The Billy Mitchell Group. The band was active in the 1980s and '90s,performing at clubs and jazz festivals, including the Sedona Jazz Festival.

Early recordings

Billy’s first solo effort, Blue City Jam, was released on Pausa Records in 1984. His second album, Night Theme (1987), captured the funky, urban flavored vibe of the Quiet Storm format just before the advent of smooth jazz, followed by Faces (1988) and In Focus (1991). After an excursion into swing and three live recordings, Live All Night Long (1994), Cat’s Pajamas (1996) and Passion (1998), Mitchell returned his smooth jazz roots with the PRC release Never Give Up On Love (2001) and Vista Records’ The Traveler (2005).

Producer

Mitchell’s work as a producer spans over four decades and dozens of recordings cover a wide spectrum of genres.

Author

During the 1980s, Mitchell wrote a monthly column for Gig Magazine called "Road Warrior", that gave professional advice to musicians dealing with the issues of work and career. His book The Gigging Musician (Hal Leonard Publishing) is based on Mitchell’s Gig Magazine articles, as well as interviews with industry professionals.

Actor

Mitchell appeared in the classic Clint Eastwood film Bird (1988), playing the part of Charlie Parker’s pianist. He also appeared in Jazz, an award-winning docudrama about the lives and experiences of Black musicians.

Community work

In 2002, Mitchell founded The Scholarship Audition Performance Preparatory Academy (SAPPA) to increase participation of inner-city students in music and art scholarship competitions. SAPPA also sponsors music workshops that provide free music instruction in various programs throughout the Los Angeles area. Mitchell also established the Watts-Willowbook Conservatory and Youth Symphony, where he serves as executive director.

As leader

  • 1984: Blue City Jam
  • 1986: The Cat’s Pajamas
  • 1987: Night Theme
  • 1989: Faces
  • 1992: Billy Mitchell/John Bolivar – LIVE – All Night Long
  • 1997: The Billy Mitchell Group – Passion
  • 1999: In Focus
  • 2000: Never Give Up On Love
  • 2006: The Traveler
  • 2007: Minority Report – Classified
  • As producer

  • 1976: Zebra – Closer to the Feeling
  • 1984: Billy Mitchell – Blue City Jam
  • 1985: The Plunketts – Jazz Christmas
  • 1986: Billy Mitchell – The Cat’s Pajamas
  • 1987: Billy Mitchell – Night Theme
  • 1987: Cheryl Barnes – Cheryl
  • 1988: John Bolivar – Bolivar
  • 1989: Billy Mitchell – Faces
  • 1992: Billy Mitchell/John Bolivar – LIVE – All Night Long
  • 1996: Cheryl “Charley” Berdell – Charley
  • 1997: The Billy Mitchell Group – “Passion
  • 1998: Charlie Chartmaker – Silhouette of an Era
  • 1999: Jo Marie Payton – Southern Shadows
  • 1999: Billy Mitchell – In Focus
  • 2000: Nicole Martel – Cest Si Bon
  • 2000: Billy Mitchell – Never Give Up On Love
  • 2000: Brenda Lee Eager – Startin’ Over
  • 2002: Lori Donato – I Love Being Here with You
  • 2005: Monica Peterson – International Chanteuse
  • 2006: Billy Mitchell – The Traveler
  • 2006: Chikage Kimura – Perdido
  • 2007: Michiyo Yuasa – Sophisticated Lady
  • 2007: Minority Report – Classified”
  • 2012: Yuko Mabuchi – Waves
  • 2013: Garrett Morris – Black Creole Chronicle
  • As Arranger and/or sideman

  • 1975: Billy Paul – Got My Head on Straight
  • 1977: Ricky Lance – The Sun is Rising
  • 1977: Frankie Crocker – Frankie Crocker & The Heart and Soul Orchestra
  • 1977: The Gap Band – The Gap
  • 1979: Aura – Take a Trip
  • 1989: Willie Dixon, Stanley Behrens – The Stanley Behrens Willie Dixon Project
  • 1979 Leonard Grandson – The Sands of Zanzibar
  • 1987: Cash McCall – Cash Up Front
  • 1992: Hispanic Musicians Association Orchestra – California Salsa
  • Awards

    Pasadena Arts Council Gold Crown Award (2006) The KCET and Union Bank Local Hero Award (2010) The Living Legend Foundation, Living Legend Award (2012, July)

    References

    Billy Mitchell (jazz pianist) Wikipedia