+ + +
What a day it was! Billy Mitchell - a stalwart pianist and producer who lives in Los Angeles, CA - came back to us and brought some real heavyweights with him!
He had seven great musicians joining him for the Sunday afternoon show, which included two "Trans-oceanic" Jazzers - recording artist and Guitarist Yu Ooka, who's a Director of the Music Performance Academy (MPA) in Los Angeles and Tokyo, and pianist Yuko Mabuchi, who's both an MPA student and recording artist based in Tokyo.
Rounding out the musical artistry for the day was Phoenix Jazz Diva Sherry Roberson, harpist (harmonica) Julian DAvid, keyboardist/vocalist Steve Sandner, bassist Steve Douglas and percussionist Kevin Mc Quaid.
Now, here's a bit about Billy Mitchell...
Billy played the piano as a child, but didn't get serious about music until he entered Morehouse College. While pursuing a political science degree he joined the school jazz band and was soon playing gigs in and around Atlanta. In 1970 Mitchell moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career and was soon backing up such artists as Gloria Lynn, ("Little") Esther Phillips, Randy Crawford and Linda Hopkins, to name a few.
He has appeared at many international festivals including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Heineken World Music Festival, International Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, Sedona Jazz on the Rocks, and countless club appearances. His solo career has included appearances in film, most notably Clint Eastwood's "Bird." In 1999 America West Airlines awarded Mitchell the Jazz For The Next Generation Award for his continued work with young musicians. His work as a clinician has centered on his book, "The Gigging Musician" (Backbeat Books) based on interviews and his articles as a writer for Gig Magazine.
In 2002 Billy founded The Scholarship Audition Performance Preparatory Academy. This program is designed to increase participation of inner-city students in music and arts scholarship competitions. SAPPA works to develop the students' artistic and creative aptitude, ability, desire and skills toward the ultimate goal of applying for and winning arts competitions.
And here are the cats who played with Billy...
Yu Ooka, Guitar
Steve Douglas, String Bass
Kevin Mc Quaid, Drums
***Special Guests***
Yuko Mabuchi, Piano
Steve Sandner, Keyboard & Vocals
Julian Davis, Harmonica
Sherry Roberson
Here's a video of Billy playing with a large group ...
Here's Yu Ooka soloing with sax man Eric Marienthal, with Billy Mitchell on keyboard