Blue Mitchell

Richard Allen "Blue" Mitchell (March 13, 1930 – May 21, 1979) was an American trumpeter and composer who worked in jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk. He recorded albums as leader and sideman for Riverside, Mainstream Records, and Blue Note. He is also credited as the most recorded trumpeter with jazz organ, accumulating 27 sideman recordings in the genre.

Mitchell was born and raised in Miami, Florida, United States. He began playing the trumpet in high school, aged 17, with the nickname "Blue". His early influences included Dizzy Gillespie, Fatts Navarro, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, and Clifford Brown.

After high school, Blue Mitchell began playing with local musicians in Miami. By Sam Jones's telegram request, Mitchell joined the touring Paul Williams Orchestra in Detroit. He later called this his first tour with a professional band. While on tour in 1952, Mitchell passed through New York, where he made his first recordings. These were later released on the compilation album Quartet/Quintet/Sextet by Lou Donaldson. Mitchell remained in New York following the conclusion of the tour and was hired to join Earl Bostic's touring band from 1952 to 1955.

Following his stint with Earl Bostic, in 1955, Blue Mitchell returned to Miami and was heard by saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, a fellow Floridian. Adderley recommended Mitchell to Riverside Records' producer, Orrin Keepnews, who flew to Miami to hear Mitchell perform. Keepnews, impressed, signed Mitchell to record a string of his own albums for Riverside.

Mitchell joined the Horace Silver Quintet in 1958, playing with tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Louis Hayes, who was later replaced by Roy Brooks. Mitchell stayed with Silver's group until the band's break-up in 1964, after which Mitchell formed a group with members from the Silver quintet, substituting the young pianist Chick Corea for Silver and replacing Brooks with drummer Al Foster. This group produced a number of records for Blue Note Records with some variation in personnel, disbanding in 1969. Mitchell then toured with Ray Charles until 1971.

From 1971 to 1973, Mitchell performed with John Mayall, appearing on Jazz Blues Fusion and subsequent albums. In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles, California. During this period, he recorded and worked as a studio musician in the genres jazz, R&B, soul, rock, and funk, and performed with the big band leaders Louie Bellson, Bill Holman, and Bill Berry, and was the principal soloist for Tony Bennett and Lena Horne.

Mitchell co-led a quintet with saxophonist Harold Land, while in California, until his death from cancer on May 21, 1979, aged 49.