J.R. Mitchell

J. R. Mitchell
J. R. Mitchell, Kool Jazz Festival, New York 1982
Background information
Birth name	James Roland Mitchell
Born	(1937-04-13)April 13, 1937 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 25, 2004(2004-01-25) (aged 66) New York, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Drummer, Composer, Percussionist
Instruments	Drums, Congas, Piano
Years active	1960–2004
Labels	Dogtown, Doria, CIMP

James Roland "J. R." Mitchell (April 13, 1937 – January 25, 2004) was a jazz drummer and educator who sought to promote awareness of the African American music experience. In the early 1980s, jazz journalist and Washington Post music critic W. Royal Stokes wrote, "J. R. Mitchell is the renaissance man of jazz."

J. R. Mitchell was born April 13, 1937 to a family of five in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At age 15, Mitchell began studying percussion at Music City in Philadelphia, under Paul Patterson. After high school, he entered the U.S. Marines, and while in the service in North Carolina, he associated with many musicians from Detroit. Completing his military service in 1958, Mitchell entered Combs College of Music and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Applied Instruments (percussion) and Music Education. He continued his studies at Temple University in orchestration, arranging and conduction, performing with the Olney Symphony Orchestra.

Awarded a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, he studied piano and arranging there with Dean Earl and Dick Wright. Mitchell continued his education at the New England Conservatory of Music, studying under Jaki Byard (who became a close friend and musical associate), George Russell and Gunther Schuller, and received a Master's Degree in composition. Subsequently, on a scholarship to the Bennington College Summer Program, he worked with Jaki Byard, Avery Collor, Ken McIntyre, Ernie Wilkins and Beaver Harris. Mitchell also studied music marketing at New York University, as well as ethnomusicology, music of the Middle East and of India at Hunter College.