Nicole Mitchell

In 1986 the flutist Nicole Mitchell took an improvisation course with Jimmy Cheatham and switched from classical music to jazz, as she tells Peter Margasak ( Chicago Reader ). In 1990 she moved from Southern California to Chicago, playing on the streets first, but soon making a name for herself as an extraordinary flutist. Together with the flutist Maia she founded the band Samana, the first all-woman ensemble within the musicians' initiative AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians). She also worked with Hamid Drake, David Boykin and other musicians from the AACM and founded her Black Earth Ensemble with which she plays mostly her own compositions and for which she can draw on about 30 musicians. Since two years she is co-president of the AACM and last year founded the AACM Creative Youth Ensemble.
In the August 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine, Nicole Mitchell has placed #1 in the Rising Star Flutist category. This is Mitchell's third year to carry the title.
Many Paths to the Sea: A Tribute to Alice Coltrane at Millennium Park, Chicago.
On Aug 9, 2007, Mitchell will unveil a new suite of compositions inspired by the genius and power of Alice Coltrane.

Next shows:
Aug 18 2007 - 6:00pm Douglas Park 1401 S. Sacramento Ave.
Chicago, IL
United States
See map: Google Maps Black Earth Ensemble at Douglas Park, Ravinia Concert Series, FREE

Aug 27 2007 - 7:00pm Millennium Park Michigan and Randolph
Chicago, IL
United States
See map: Google Maps