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Roscoe Mitchell
One of the top saxophonists to come out of Chicago's AACM movement of the mid-'60s, Roscoe Mitchell is a particularly strong and consistently adventurous improviser long associated with the Art Ensemble of Chicago. After getting out of the military, Mitchell led a hard bop sextet in Chicago (1961) which gradually became much freer.He was a member of Muhal Richard Abrams's Experimental Band and a founding member of the AACM in 1965. Mitchell's monumental Sound album (1966) introduced a new way of freely improvising, utilizing silence as well as high energy and “little instruments” as well as conventional horns. Lester Bowie and Malachi Favors were on that date and Mitchell's 1967 follow-up Old/Quartet.
With the addition of Joseph Jarman and Philip Wilson (who was later succeeded by Famoudou Don Moye), the Art Ensemble of Chicago was born. The colorful unit was one of the most popular groups in the jazz avant-garde and Mitchell was an integral part of the band. Roscoe Mitchell (who, in addition to his main horns, plays clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe, baritone and bass saxophones) also was involved in individual projects through the years and has recorded as a leader for Delmark, Nessa, Sackville, Moers Music, 1750 Arch, Black Saint, Cecma and Silkheart in settings ranging from large ensembles to unaccompanied solo concerts.
Album Reviews
- Littlefield Concert Hall Mills College March 19-20, 2018 by Alberto Bazzurro
Interviews
Album Reviews
- Accelerated Projection by John Sharpe
- Accelerated Projection by Don Phipps
Live Reviews
Album Reviews
- Discussions by Glenn Astarita
- Bells for the South Side by Giuseppe Segala
Live Reviews
- Roscoe Mitchell Sextet al Teatro Manzoni di Milano
- Roscoe Mitchell e Michele Rabbia alla Sala dei Giganti al Liviano di Padova
Album Reviews
- Angel City by John Sharpe
- Improvisations by John Sharpe
- Live At "A Space" 1975 by Hrayr Attarian
- Three Compositions by John Sharpe
- Numbers by John Sharpe
Live Reviews
Album Reviews
- Far Side by Charles Walker
- Far Side by Hrayr Attarian
- Far Side by John Kelman
- Contact by John Sharpe
Extended Analysis
Read more articlesDecember 04, 2014
Jazz This Week: Roscoe Mitchell and Craig Taborn, Joey Defrancesco...
November 30, 2014
STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: A Roscoe Mitchell Sampler
July 31, 2014
New Music Circle 2014-15 Season to Include Roscoe Mitchell and Craig...
July 25, 2014
Enter the "Roscoe Mitchell - Conversations II" Giveaway!
March 28, 2012
Mills College Premieres Renowned Musician Roscoe Mitchell's Compositions
April 09, 2011
Delmark Now Distributes Sackville Records; Roscoe Mitchell's "Quartet,"...
March 16, 2011
December 14, 2010
Roscoe Mitchell/the Note Factory - Far Side (ECM 2010)
March 09, 2009
Big Deep - Benefit Concert for Deep Listening Institute
February 27, 2009
Deep Listening Golden Ear Award Presentation to Roscoe Mitchell as...
August 07, 2006
"Sound" Concert Series Concludes with Rare Performance by Art Ensemble...
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Discography
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Last Updated: May 21, 2019
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