Billy Mitchell (jazz musician)
Encyclopedia
Billy Mitchell was an American
jazz
tenor saxophonist
known for his close association with fellow Detroiter Thad Jones and work with a variety of big bands including Woody Herman when he replaced Gene Ammons
in his band. In 1949 Mitchell recorded with the Milt Buckner
band, and from 1956 to 1957 he played with Dizzy Gillespie
in his big band.
From 1957 until 1961 and from 1966 to 1967 Mitchell played with Count Basie
, having replaced Lockjaw Davis. In the early 1960s he co-led a group with Al Grey
, and also served as musical director to Stevie Wonder
for a short time during this period.
Mitchell is a leading exponent of the hard-driving post-bop era of of jazz saxophonists, and remains very underrated as such!
Not to be confused with another Billy Mitchell who was a jazz-piano keyboardist who had a career with Optimism record in the 80's
With Tony Bennett
With Dizzy Gillespie
With Thad Jones
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
tenor saxophonist
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
known for his close association with fellow Detroiter Thad Jones and work with a variety of big bands including Woody Herman when he replaced Gene Ammons
Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons also known as "The Boss," was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, and the son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons.-Biography:...
in his band. In 1949 Mitchell recorded with the Milt Buckner
Milt Buckner
Milt Buckner was an American jazz pianist and organist, originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He was orphaned as a child, but an uncle in Detroit taught him to play...
band, and from 1956 to 1957 he played with Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
in his big band.
From 1957 until 1961 and from 1966 to 1967 Mitchell played with Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
, having replaced Lockjaw Davis. In the early 1960s he co-led a group with Al Grey
Al Grey
Al Grey was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the Count Basie orchestra....
, and also served as musical director to Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
for a short time during this period.
Mitchell is a leading exponent of the hard-driving post-bop era of of jazz saxophonists, and remains very underrated as such!
Not to be confused with another Billy Mitchell who was a jazz-piano keyboardist who had a career with Optimism record in the 80's
As Leader
- 1961: Al Grey/Billy Mitchell Sextet (Argo RecordsArgo RecordsArgo Records was started in December of 1955 to accommodate some of the rapidly growing recording activity at Chess Records. Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo.Initially, Argo offered a...
) - 1962: This Is Billy Mitchell Featuring Bobby Hutcherson with Dave BurnsDave BurnsDave Burns , is a Dutch-British football coach. He is fluent in English and Dutch, and has basic knowledge of French and German....
, Clarence Anderson, Otis Finch, Bobby HutchersonBobby HutchersonBobby Hutcherson is a jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His vibraphone playing is suggestive of the style of Milt Jackson in its free-flowing melodicism, but his sense of harmony and group interaction is thoroughly modern...
, Herman WrightHerman WrightHerman Wright was a jazz bassist from Detroit, Michigan and later resided in Harlem, New York City until his death.He began on drums as a teen before ultimately settling on upright bass. He worked with Dorothy Ashby, Terry Gibbs, Yusef Lateef, George Shearing, Doug Watkins and on one occasion...
, Billy WallaceBilly WallaceWilliam Joseph Wallace , usually known as Billy Wallace, was a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He was a member of the legendary 1905 Original All Blacks. Wallace won his first Test cap for New Zealand on 15 August 1903 against Australia...
, Verve RecordsVerve RecordsVerve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve... - 1963: Little Juicy
- 1973: Ragtime Recycled (Ethylyn Records)
- 1977: Now's the Time (Catalyst Records)
- 1978: The Colossus of DetroitThe Colossus of DetroitThe Colossus Of Detroit is an album by jazz saxophonist Billy Mitchell, released in 1978 by Xanadu Records.-Track listing:#"Recorda-Me"#"I Had the Craziest Dream"#"I Should Care"#"Unforgettable"#"How Am I to Know"#"Be My Guest"- Personnel :...
(Xanadu RecordsXanadu RecordsXanadu Records was a jazz music record label specializing in bebop throughout the 1970s and 1980s founded by Don Schlitten, recording and issuing recordings by some legendary names in jazz music.-Discography:...
) with Barry HarrisBarry HarrisBarry Doyle Harris is an American bebop jazz pianist and educator.-Biography:Harris left Detroit for New York City in 1960...
, Sam JonesSamuel Jones (musician)Samuel Jones was a jazz bassist, cellist, and composer.Sam Jones was born in Jacksonville, FL and moved to New York city in 1955. There, Jones played with Bobby Timmons, Tiny Bradshaw, Les Jazz Modes, Kenny Dorham, Illinois Jacquet, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk...
, Walter Bolden - 1980: De Lawd's Blues (Xanadu)with Benny BaileyBenny BaileyBenny Bailey, born Ernest Harold Bailey , was an American bebop and hard-bop jazz trumpeter.-Biography:...
, Tommy FlanaganTommy FlanaganThomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald...
, Rufus ReidRufus ReidRufus Reid is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.-Personal history:...
, Jimmy CobbJimmy Cobb-External links:* - includes full discography* * * * * * *... - 1980: Night Flight to Dakar (Xanadu)
As Sideman
With Count BasieCount Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
- Strike Up the Band (Roulette, 1959)
- Chairman of the BoardChairman of the Board (album)The Chairman of the Board is a 1959 studio album by Count Basie and his orchestra. - Track listing :# "Blues in Hoss' Flat" – 3:13# "H.R.H...
(Roulette, 1959)
With Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
- In Person!In Person!In Person! is a 1959 live album by Tony Bennett, accompanied by the Count Basie Orchestra.Basie and Bennett recorded two albums together in 1959; In Person! was released by Bennett's record label, Columbia, and Strike Up the Band was released by Basie's label, Roulette.-Track listing:Side one#"Just...
(Columbia, 1958)
With Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
- Dizzy Gillespie at NewportDizzy Gillespie at NewportDizzy Gillespie at Newport is a 1957 live album by Dizzy Gillespie, featuring his big band. -Track listing:# "Dizzy's Blues" – 11:51# "School Days" Dizzy Gillespie at Newport is a 1957 live album by Dizzy Gillespie, featuring his big band. -Track listing:# "Dizzy's Blues" (Dizzy Gillespie, A.K....
(Verve, 1957)
With Thad Jones
Thad Jones
Thaddeus Joseph Jones was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.-Biography:Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan to a musical family of ten . Thad Jones was a self taught musician, performing professionally by the age of sixteen...
- Detroit-New York JunctionDetroit-New York JunctionDetroit-New York Junction is an album by American jazz trumpeter Thad Jones featuring performances recorded in 1956 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
(Blue Note, 1956) - The Magnificent Thad JonesThe Magnificent Thad JonesThe Magnificent Thad Jones is an album by American jazz trumpeter Thad Jones featuring performances recorded in 1956 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
(Blue Note, 1956)