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All Genres > Jazz > Swing/Big Band > WHITEY MITCHELL: Just In Time

WHITEY MITCHELL - Liner Notes

Whitey Mitchell, boy bass player, joined his first 'name' band at eighteen and by age twenty-three appeared at CARNEGIE HALL with JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC and with GENE KRUPA. He became a regular at New York's BIRDLAND, BASIN STREET, THE EMBERS and led his own group at THE VILLAGE VANGUARD and THE CAMEO. He toured with Benny Goodman, Les Brown, Buddy Rich, Charlie Ventura and Pete Rugolo, before settling down to do television and film scoring, recording dates and theatre work. He's worked with Andre Previn, Peggy Lee, Steve Allen, Mel torme, Billy Eckstein, Jack Jones, and has recorded with Barbra Streisand, Anita O'Day, Julie London and Burt Bacharach, among others. The bass solo introduction you hear on Ben E. King's hit record STAND BY ME is Whitey.

During the Rock'n'Roll Disco era when jazz all but disappeared, Whitey moved to Los Angeles to pursue his interest in screenwriting. After a successful career in TV and film writing during which he continued to play music, Whitey and the woman he sings about in the song 'MARILYN', his wife, a former TV Production Coordinator, moved to Palm Desert, California, where he resumed his full time music career. Local credits include the KEN PEPLOWSKI BIG BAND at The Annenberg Theatre, house bassist at the nightclub BASIN STREET WEST, five concerts for the JAZZ AT MORNINGSIDE COUNTRY CLUB series, two years leading his own WHITEY MITCHELL TRIO AT THE HYATT REGENCY HOTEL, regular gigs at SULLIVAN'S,THE LODGE. PASTA ITALIA, VICKY'S and THE ROCK GARDEN. He hosted his own celebrity radio talk show called 'THE POWER LUNCH' and three times co-produced, and was featured in, the all-star TRIBUTE TO BENNY GOODMAN as part of the JAMS JAZZ series AT THE ANNENBERG THEATRE.

Whitey has been honored with his own Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars for his lifetime achievement in the field of entertainment and for his contribution to the world prominence of Palm Springs.

Whitey Mitchell is listed in six music reference books: Leonard Feather's NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JAZZ and LAUGHTER FROM THE HIP; PENGUIN GUIDE TO JAZZ; JAZZ THE ROUGH GUIDE; NEW GROVE DICTIONARY OF JAZZ and THE BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JAZZ.
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EVERY SONG A GEM ON 'TIME':
CD Review BY RIC MARLOW, Grammy Award winning songwriter:
Artist: Whitey Mitchell
Title : JUST IN TIME
Price : $12
REVIEW: What I like is good jazz that is noiseless, but dynamic; melodious, but not screaming; soulful, but not phony; tempo changes, both subtle and dynamic; straight-ahead melody lines with innovative variations. Just great songs performed by great musicians thinking about the sound of the notes--not the cash register.

So, if you like really good music, you'll love whitey Mitchell's appropriately titled CD JUST IN TIME. Every song is a gem, from the opening track, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" through "Over The Rainbow", "All The Things You Are", etc. You'll be able to hear the music and identify the songs--a rarity today.

Whitey Mitchell has grown a lot since he played with Eddie Shu, Bobby scott and Gene Krupa with Jazz At The Philharmonic. He's gone on to play with many other jazz greats like Charlie Ventura, Les Brown, Kai Winding and more. The list like the beat, goes on. Whitey is still growing, listening and playing better than ever. His wonderful youthful attitude and his mature knowledgeable fingers, make this CD a pleasure to listen to.

"Just In Time" swings and everybody gets a chance to show their "stuff". This CD will get your toes tapping and your ears smiling. Get it--you'll be happy that you did.

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REVIEW BY BRUCE KLAUBER:
Bassist WHITEY MITCHELL is fondly remembered by Gene Krupa fans by way of his tenure with one of Gene's legendary groups. Whitey played with THE GENE KRUPA JAZZ QUARTET and
is featured on one of the most sought-after collector's items out there: JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC concert highlighted by the quartet's swinging renditions of "How High The Moon", "Sleepy Lagoon" and an unbelievable "Sing Sing Sing". Whitey himself heard these tracks for the first time since recording them and could only remark "Gene played his ass off! I forgot how great he really was!" After leaving Gene, Whitey played with dozens of jazz legends. Whitey is swinging harder and playing better than he ever has. He has released a new CD entitled WHITEY MITCHELL-JUST IN TIME, where he leads a marvelous jazz quartet. The 11 compositions--eight standards and three great originals--represent joyous free-swinging jazz of the absolute highest quality. JUST IN TIME is a must for Krupa fans, jazz lovers and for all those who just happen to like great music.

Track List:
1. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
2. All The Things You Are
3. Blues For Babe
4. The Preacher
5. Marilyn
6. The Good Life/I'll Close My Eyes
7. I'm Old Fashioned
8. Over The Rainbow
9. Just In Time
10. I Thought About You
11. Hyatt Nights

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