Billy Mitchell (jazz musician)

Billy Mitchell (b. Kansas City, Missouri, November 3, 1926; d. Rockville Centre, NY, April 18, 2001) 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, a jazz-piano keyboardist whose career was most notably with Optimism Records in the 1980s.

Discography

As Leader

• 1961: Al Grey/Billy Mitchell Sextet (Argo Records)
• 1962: This Is Billy Mitchell Featuring Bobby Hutcherson with Dave Burns, Clarence Anderson, Otis Finch, Bobby Hutcherson, Herman Wright, Billy Wallace, Verve Records
• 1963: Little Juicy
• 1973: Ragtime Recycled (Ethylyn Records)
• 1977: Now's the Time (Catalyst Records)
• 1978: The Colossus of Detroit (Xanadu Records) with Barry Harris, Sam Jones, Walter Bolden
• 1980: De Lawd's Blues (Xanadu)with Benny Bailey, Tommy Flanagan, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Cobb
• 1980: Night Flight to Dakar (Xanadu)

As Sideman

With Count Basie

• Strike Up the Band (Roulette, 1959)
• Chairman of the Board (Roulette, 1959)

With Tony Bennett

• In Person! (Columbia, 1958)

With Dizzy Gillespie

• Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (Verve, 1957)

With Milt Jackson

• Meet Milt Jackson (Savoy, 1949)
• Roll 'Em Bags (Savoy, 1949)

With Thad Jones

• Detroit-New York Junction (Blue Note, 1956)
• The Magnificent Thad Jones (Blue Note, 1956)