Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Louis A. Mitchell was born December 17, 1885 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began performing in vaudeville revues and minstrel shows from around the turn of the century, playing drums and bandoline. After a move to New York City in 1912, he founded his own group, the Southern Symphonists’ Quartet.
He sang and drummed for James Reese Europe in 1918, and the following year founded a new group, which he called Louis Mitchell’s Jazz Kings. By the end of the decade, Mitchell began touring the United States, as well as, Europe, concentrating on the United Kingdom and France. He did solo percussion shows in addition to ensemble programs, and his drum solos were greeted harshly by French audiences. Nevertheless, his ensemble spent five years as the house band of the Casino de Paris.
He recorded for Pathe Records in 1922 and 1923, with Sidney Bechet playing with him at this time, however, Bechet did not appear on the recordings. Louis remained in France until 1930, branching into restaurant and nightclub management in addition to music. He renamed one of his clubs Chez Florence due to the popularity of performer Florence Embry Jones.
Moving back to the United States in 1930 after the failure of The Plantation, his last club, but he played little in his last decades. Drummer and bandleader Louis Mitchell transitioned on September 12, 1957.
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Three Wishes
While hanging out with Roy McCurdy the Baroness had the pleasure of asking him what he would wish for if magically they could be realized and he told her:
- “For my family to be happy and secure.”
- “To play as often as I wanted to, consistently good.”
- “Oh, I don’t know! To be happy. And peace of mind. That’s probably… probably is it.”
JIMMY MADISON GROUP
If you were to list all the groups Jimmy Madison has worked with since his arrival in New York, it would read like a Who’s Who of modern music. A musician at four years, and a professional at age twelve, he has been playing jazz all his life.
Listen to an interview with Jimmy Madison here (from 2011): http://www.jakefeinbergshow.com/2011/10/the-jimmy-madison-interview/
Showtimes: 4:00pm & 6:00pm
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Three Wishes
Nica inquired of Sam Woodyard what three things he would wish for if they could come true and his response was:
- “To keep living! That’s all there is. Because we don’t come through here but once.”
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ulysses Owens Jr. was born December 6, 1982 in Jacksonville, Florida and began playing the drums at the age of 3. He played many types of music in his younger years, centering on his experience in the church. By the time he was in his early teens, he realized that he would become a jazz musician and received a full scholarship to study at the Juilliard School, in its inaugural jazz program.
After graduating from Juilliard in 2006, Ulysses traveled the world as a jazz drummer. After hearing about Jacksonville’s high dropout rate and other problems with struggling youths, he and his family designed a program to help suspended youths stay in school.
Owens was vocalist Kurt Elling’s drummer on Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman, and on bassist Christian McBride’s The Good Feeling, both of which won Grammy Award. He has also played and recorded with pianist Joey Alexander, Gregory Porter and Matthew Whitaker. His composition The Simplicity of Life was commissioned by the string quartet ETHEL for their multimedia show ETHEL’s Documerica.
Drummer and percussionist Ulysses Owens Jr., who is co-founder and artistic director of the charity, Don’t Miss A Beat, continues to perform and compose.
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