Person · Male
Roscoe Mitchell
- From
- Chicago, United States
- Since
- 1940–present
- Releases
- 57
- jazz
- avant-garde jazz
- free jazz
About
Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940) is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist". The Penguin Guide to Jazz described him as "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz; All About Jazz stated in 2004 that he had been "at the forefront of modern music" for more than 35 years. Critic Jon Pareles in The New York Times has mentioned that Mitchell "qualifies as an iconoclast". In addition to his own work as a bandleader, Mitchell is known for cofounding the Art Ensemble of Chicago and the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).
Member of
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Roscoe Mitchell and the Note Factory alto saxophone, eponymous, flute, lead vocals, percussion, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
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Roscoe Mitchell Sextet alto saxophone, clarinet, eponymous, recorder
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Roscoe Mitchell and The Sound Ensemble eponymous
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Leo Smith Creative Orchestra alto saxophone
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Roscoe Mitchell Quartet alto saxophone, eponymous, sopranino saxophone
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Roscoe Mitchell Orchestra eponymous
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The Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble eponymous
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Space soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, bass saxophone
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Roscoe Mitchell New Chamber Ensemble eponymous, percussion, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
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Roscoe Mitchell Trio eponymous, flute, piccolo, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, horn, bass saxophone
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Roscoe Mitchell Quintet eponymous, percussion, flute, piccolo, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass saxophone
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Roscoe Mitchell Creative Orchestra alto saxophone, eponymous
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Mitchell Zurzolo Moye Quintet eponymous, flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
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Thomas Buckner Open reeds
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Alan Silva and The Celestrial Communication Orchestra oboe, flute, saxophone
Discography
Albums
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Old / Quartet
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Nonaah
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L-R-G / The Maze / S II Examples
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Roscoe Mitchell Duets with Anthony Braxton
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New Music for Woodwinds and Voice
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More Cutouts
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Four Compositions
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Songs in the Wind Apple Music
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After Fallen Leaves
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First Meeting
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Hey Donald Apple Music
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2-Z
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Sound Songs Apple Music
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Hymn for Roscoe
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8 O’Clock: Two Improvisations
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Solo [3] Apple Music
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First Look: Chicago Duos
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Streaming
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Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3 Apple Music
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Illuviation
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Kirili et les Nymphéas: Hommage a Monet (Improvised Music at the Musée de l'Orangerie)
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Before There Was Sound
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Duets with Tyshawn Sorey and Special Guest Hugh Ragin Apple Music
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Conversations II
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Conversations I
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Tone Ventures
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Soundscape 1979
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Discussions Apple Music
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Four Ways
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Ride the Wind
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Performing Distant Radio Transmission Also Nonaah Trio, Cutouts for Woodwind Quintet and 8.8.88
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Flow States
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Dots - Pieces for Percussion and Woodwinds Apple Music
Live
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the Ritual and the Dance
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A Railroad Spike Forms the Voice
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Four Sure
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Splatter Apple Music
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Voyage and Homecoming
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Accelerated Projection
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Bells for the South Side Apple Music
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Nessuno
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Sustain and Run: Ao vivo Jazz na Fábrica
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In Pursuit of Magic
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Not Yet: Six Compositions
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Improvisations
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Voice Prints
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Three Compositions: Live at Sant’Anna Arresi
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Contact
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Spectrum
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The Italian Concert
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Jelenés
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Duets and Solos
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Live at the Mühle Hunziken
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The Roscoe Mitchell Solo Saxophone Concerts
Links
Listen
Concerts
Conductor position
Parent
Teacher
Tags
- composer
- educator
- jazz instrumentalist
- saxophonist
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 56f33083-6014-4f4e-9c43-b9652cde55be
- ISNI
- 000000005950065X
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 6 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.