Robert Mitchell (jazz pianist): Difference between revisions

Robert Mitchell (born 1971) is a British jazz musician, composer and teacher.

Born in Ilford, Essex, Mitchell has forged a formidable reputation as a gifted pianist and composer. As part of the F-ire Collective, Robert won the Jazz on 3 Innovation Award at the 2004 BBC Jazz Awards; he has also been nominated twice: for Rising Star in 2002, and Best New Work in 2003. He has played/recorded with musicians such as Norma Winstone, Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Ty, 2 Banks of 4, and IG Culture, in addition to leading the 4/6-piece Panacea, his trio (with Richard Spaven and Tom Mason), performing in duo with Omar Puente (Bridges), and performing as a solo pianist.

He studied at City University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Early band memberships included Tomorrow's Warriors and Gary Crosby's Nu Troop, plus award winning bands Quite Sane and J-Life.

Panacea first performed in 2000, and have performed in the London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival (Pillar Room), and the North Sea Jazz Festival (2006), and Vienne Jazz Festival (2008) and in such venues as the Pizza Express, Jazz Cafe, The Wardrobe, The Spin, The Spitz, Le Tavernier and Cargo. It released its debut album Voyager on the Dune label in 2001. Its second album, Trust, was released on F-IRE in 2005. In March 2006, the band recorded a session for Radio 1's Gilles Peterson Worldwide show. The band was subsequently nominated for Session Of The Year at the 2006 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards.

The duo with Cuban violinist Omar Puente began in 2003. The performance of this duo in the Havana International Jazz Festival (2004) resulted in a TV programme being made about the pair for Cuban TV (A TODO JAZZ 2005). The debut album Bridges was released in 2006 on F-IRE. They have also performed to great acclaim in Morocco and Belgium and the UK.

His solo album, Equinox, was originally a BBC Radio 3/Jerwood commission, and was released in 2007. It was nominated for Best Work at the BBC Jazz Awards (2003). It was launched at Lifting The Lid, a three-day celebration of modern solo jazz piano instigated, organised and curated by Mitchell. He has performed solo in Sweden, Belgium, Latvia and across the UK. He opened for Wayne Shorter In Brighton in 2003 (at the Dome), and Branford Marsalis in the same year (at the Barbican, London).

Robert Mitchell 3io grew out of the long running band Panacea. It features Tom Mason (on bass) and Richard Spaven (on drums). After starting in around 2003/4, it releases its debut album The Greater Good in late 2008 (33Rec/Jazz Services). The trio also tour the UK during the same period.

Mitchell is working with singer Jhelisa Anderson (cousin of Carleen), Dan Stern (saxophonist, clarinettist and composer), and Yolanda Charles (bassist and singer), amongst others.

Since 2003, he has been a visiting Composer at the Royal Academy of Music Jazz Department. His education work has also included projects at WAC, City University, Middlesex University, and as solo, ensemble teacher and examiner on the jazz course at The Royal Academy Of Music.

• Voyager (Dune 2001)
  
• Trust (F-ire 2005)
  
• Bridges (F-ire 2006) with Omar Puente
  
• Equinox (F-ire 2007)
  
• The Greater Good (33 Records/Jazz Services 2008)

Magic Of Olmec - Keith Waithe & The Macusi Players (Keda Records 1997)
Tomorrow's Warriors Presents...J-Life - J-Life (Dune Records 1998)
Journey Into Beyond - Keith Waithe & The Macusi Players (Keda Records 1999)
The Sonic Language Of Myth - Steve Coleman (BMG France 1999)
Back In The Day - Courtney Pine (Talkin' Loud 2000)

• The Cat's Meow, directed by Peter Bogdanovich

• Robert Mitchell Website
  
• Robert Mitchell Myspace page
  
• F-ire Collective
  
• Dune
  
• Robert Mitchell on Reverbnation