[Dixielandjazz] Grover Mitchell Obit

[Stephen Barbone]

Sadly, another of us is gone. Mitchell could play.

Steve Barbone

August 8, 2003 - New York Times

Grover Mitchell, 73, Trombonist and Leader of Basie Orchestra, Dies

By BEN RATLIFF

Grover Mitchell, the lead trombonist for the late-period Count Basie
Orchestra and the third leader of the band since Basie's death, died on
Wednesday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in Manhattan. He was 73
and lived in Manhattan.

The cause was cancer, said Dee Askew, the band's manager, who added that
no successor as bandleader had yet been chosen.

Born in Whatley, Ala., and raised in Pittsburgh, Mr. Mitchell was a
lifelong brass-section player: he built up his experience with
Pittsburgh's excellent school bands (one of which also included the
pianist Ahmad Jamal), military bands and the Chicago-based jump-blues
band led by King Kolax. After leaving the Marines in the 1950's, he
played with Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington and finally Count Basie.

He joined the Basie band from 1962 and stayed until 1970, when jazz
musicians at his level of expertise were able to make more money in the
television studios. Mr. Mitchell worked for NBC's "Flip Wilson Show" and
stayed at the network for a decade; he also worked on films, including
"Lady Sings the Blues."

During a Los Angeles musicians' union strike in 1980, Basie again called
for Mr. Mitchell, who was ready to rejoin. Mr. Mitchell strengthened the
sound of the trombone section, and in the years before Basie died in
1984, he became one of Basie's most dependable lieutenants. His job gave
him enough flexibility to run his own big band on the side, beginning in
1978. In 1995 he became bandleader of the Count Basie Orchestra,
following Thad Jones and Frank Foster.

As leader, he emphasized musicianship, teamwork and precision and won
the band renewed popularity by extending its repertory beyond its
greatest
hits and current pop tunes.

He revived many classic arrangements from present and past members of
the band including Frank Foster and Ernie Royal and distinguished
outside arrangers like Benny Carter and Neal Hefti.

His goal was to differentiate the Basie band from other "ghost bands" by
hiring not just ambitious beginners but also experienced soloists who
were willing to submerge their own sound in the tight ensemble and who
honored the Basie tradition; at least five contemporary members,
including Mr. Mitchell, had played with Basie in his lifetime, and he
continued to take an occasional solo.

The band made several successful recordings under his leadership,
including two Grammy winners for best recording by a large jazz
ensemble, "Live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild" (1996) and "Count Plays
Duke" (1998).

His own sound was clean, with an attractive, mellow tone; he was best
known as a ballad player. As he told the interviewer Bob Bernotas in
1996, Basie "wasn't crazy about the trombone, but he liked Tommy Dorsey,
and for some reason or other I was a pretty good Tommy Dorsey imitator.
That got me over as far as Count Basie was concerned."

Mr. Mitchell's marriage to Jamie Mitchell ended in divorce. His
survivors include their daughter, Gail O'Brien; two sisters, Edwina
Posey and Marva Wilkes, both of Pittsburgh; and two grandchildren.