Mitch Mitchell
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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John "Mitch" Mitchell (July 9, 1947 November 12, 2008) was an English drummer, most best-known for his membership in The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Mitchell was known for his work the album Electric Ladyland and songs such as as "Manic Depression", "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", "Fire" and "Third Stone from the Sun". Mitchell came from a jazz background and like many of his drummer contemporaries was strongly influenced by the work of Elvin Jones, Max Roach, and Joe Morello.
Style
Mitchell pioneered a style of drumming which would later become known as fusion. This is a "lead" style of playing distinguished by interplay with lead instruments such as guitar or keyboards, and the melding of jazz and rock drumming styles. Though lead drums was not a new concept in the world of jazz, it was relatively unheard of in the rock genre at the time. Upon joining Hendrix in late 1966, it soon became evident to Mitch that the trio format of the band was very similar to the recently formed Cream, and that it would allow him an opportunity to become more free with his playing. Like a jazz drummer, Mitch's playing not only provided a rhythmic support for the music, but also a source of momentum and melody. He made heavy use of snare rudiments, fast single and double stroke rolls, and jazz triplet patterns in his playing, and shifted between both traditional and matched grips. Notable examples of his style include the rudiment-heavy fills on "Hey Joe", which help to carry the song through a series increasingly intense crescendos. "Manic Depression" is a 3/4 rock waltz that finds Mitch playing a driving afro-cuban inspired beat, which then shifts to an explosion of triplets all around the drumkit during the outro. "Third Stone from the Sun" incorporates a jazz ride pattern to underpin Hendrix's jazzy surf guitar, and the spacey breakdown section features polyrythmic drum fills that float over the 4/4 meter. "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" features military-style snare drum work and delicate cymbal playing that evokes the sound of wind chimes. The long blues jam "Voodoo Chile" features Mitch playing a deep blues groove with subtle hi-hat accenting and powerful drum fills that help to propel the song to new heights. Alongside Hendrix's revolutionary guitar work and songwriting, Mitchell's playing helped redefine rock music drumming.
Discography
- 1967: Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced?
- 1968: Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold As Love
- 1968: Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
- 1971: Jimi Hendrix - The Cry Of Love
- 1971: Jimi Hendrix - Rainbow Bridge
- 1972: Jimi Hendrix - War Heroes
- 1972: Ramatam - Ramatam'
- 1973: Ramatam - In April Came the Dawning of the Red Suns
