Robert Mitchell
Photo By R. Kaby
Piano, Keyboards, Composer, Lyricist, Teacher, Arranger, Examiner.
Projects include: Robert Mitchell's Panacea (4-6piece song band), Robert Mitchell & Omar Puente (piano+Violin duo), Robert Mitchell 3io (pno,bass,drums trio), Robert Mitchell and Julien Siegal (piano+sax duo), Robert Mitchell (solo piano), Robert Mitchell and Corey Mwamba duo (piano+vibes)....
Robert Mitchell has been twice individually nominated for the BBC Jazz Awards (Best Newcomer,and Best New Work) , winning as part of the F-ire Collective (Innovation 2004).
He has won National and Inernational awards with the groups Quite Sane and J-Life. He has performed in many different projects - with names like Steve Coleman, Norma Winstone, Courtney Pine, Vaughn Hawthorne-Nelson ,I.G.Culture,Greg Osby,The Roots,Steve Williamson, The Jazz Warriors, Keith Waithe, Ty, Sillhouette Brown, Shorter Stories, Ntoumos, Omar Puente & Cubania , Marlena Shaw and many more...
He has taken part in a feature film (The Cats Miaow dir. Peter Bogdanovich 2000). As part of a duo project with Cuban violinist Omar Puente - a tv programme was made about the pair in Cuba - featuring a performance in the Havana Jazz Fest (A Todo Jazz 2005). Their debut Cd BRIDGES (F-ire CD16) came out in 2006. Robert's band PANACEA did a BBC Radio1 Session for Gilles Peterson, and performed in the North Sea Jazz Festival (2006 - Holland) and the Vienne Festival (2008 France) . Their debut cd VOYAGER (Dune) was released in 2001 (earning the first BBC nomination for Robert). Their 2nd cd TRUST (F-ire CD5) was released in 2005 to fantastic reviews. Robert Mitchell's Panacea was also nominated in the Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards (for best live session).
Robert has been previously commissioned by the Jerwood Trust/BBC and Nuance (a collaboration between Panacea and RPO orchestral musicians ), as well as Nitro/ROH (a opera collab project ). His education work has included projects at WAC, City Uni, Middlesex Uni,and the Royal Academy Of Music (Jazz course - as solo tutor, ensemble teacher, and examiner) .
Outside of his own projects - he works with the great US vocalist Jhelisa Anderson - in both the electric band, and her Nina Simone Project. He also works with unique composer/reedsman Dan Stern, bassist to rock/pop legends Yolanda Charles' project -The Deep M.O., male US vocalist Jose James (signing to Gilles Petersons Brownswood label), youngest member of the AACM the brilliant US saxophonist Matana Roberts, and young Irish drumming force David Lyttle (whose group sometimes features the towering Greg Osby).
Robert has also curated a new solo piano festival/event - called Lifting The Lid : A Celebration Of Modern Solo Piano. This took place at the Pizza Express on the 13-15Sept 2007. A solo piano album EQUINOX (F-ire) was launched during the event (F-ireCD15). He is committed to establishing more opportunities to raise the profile of solo keyboard improvisation from all genres....
Roberts first international commission was performed in 2008 - entitled REALM (Portrait for Left Hand). It was premiered by classical pianist Ivo De Greef in Lisbon, Portugal as part of a Keith Jarret Tribute. It had its UK premiere in May 2009 in London.
Robert Mitchell's latest release (2008) - THE GREATER GOOD (Jazz Services/33Records) , is his first with his trio (Robert Mitchell 3io) . They also did their first UK tour in 2008. ROBERT MITCHELL 3IO WON BEST JAZZ ALBUM 2009 AT THE GILLES PETERSON WORLDWIDE AWARDS (BBC RADIO1)...
Robert Mitchell's Panacea also record their 3rd album in 2009 (with special international guests).
They celebrate 10yrs together in 2010.... forthcoming recording projects include debut duos with Julian Siegel , Corey Mwamba, and the second album with Omar Puente....
In 2009 Robert became an official Steinway artist.
