Red Mitchell, Joakim Milder, Roger Kellaway

Red Mitchell has been a prolific bassist, session musician and bandleader since the late '40s. His facility, range and percussive, dashing style have made him a premier player. Mitchell's phrasing and huge, full tones as well as his ability to make the bass a lead melodic instrument are a testament to his immense talents. He studied piano for nine years before switching to bass while in an army band stationed in Germany. Mitchell worked with Jackie Paris and Mundell Lowe in the late '40s, then joined Chubby Jackson's big band, playing both piano and bass. Mitchell played with Charlie Ventura, also touring and recording with Woody Herman in the late '40s and early '50s, and Red Norvo's trio in the early '50s. He recorded with Billie Holiday and Jimmy Raney while in The Norvo trio, then joined Gerry Mulligan in the mid-'50s. Mitchell performed and recorded with Hampton Hawes during the '50s and '60s, worked again with Holiday in 1956 and 1957 and recorded with Ornette Coleman's band in 1959. He also did many film and television soundtracks while serving as the main bassist in MGM's studio band from 1959 to 1968. He led his own quintet in 1957, then co-led a group in 1961 and 1962 with Harold Land. Mitchell moved to Stockholm in 1966, and played in Europe for 10 years. He worked with touring musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Phil Woods, while also playing with The Swedish Radiojazzgruppen and pianist Guido Manusardi. He formed the group Communication in 1976, with both top European musicians and American expatriates like Horace Parlan. He worked with this band into the '80s, while occasionally making return visits to America. He recorded with Jim Hall in 1978 and toured with Communication in 1979. Mitchell recorded with Tommy Flanagan and Jimmie Rowles in the '80s. He also did sessions in the '80s and '90s for Capri and Sunnyside. There's a moderate amount of Mitchell material availble on CD. © TiVo