Dennis Mitcheltree

Saxophonist/composer Dennis Mitcheltree’s new recording, his sixth as a leader, Golden Rule, is one brimming with humanity. The music celebrates family, lost friends, his major inspirations (including tenor giants John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and others), and speaks directly to our shared journey through life, and the imperative to treat each other with love, respect, trust and dignity – in short – to treat others as you wish to be treated. The music on Golden Rule is a reflection of that notion. It also swings like mad and engages the listener with nine wonderfully crafted compositions from Mitcheltree.

“The long arc of humanity bends upward towards cooperation,” says Mitcheltree. That is exemplified in his ensemble, which features pianist Johannes Wallmann, bassist Jesse Crawford and drummer Bill McClellan. The quartet has been playing music together for several decades, and, “have become personally simpatico and musically empathetic. We’ve toured the world and working together is never a struggle as we trust each other on a deep and instinctual level. The Golden Rule is followed when we play music - treating each other as we wish to be treated: with respect, freedom, and joy,” explains Mitcheltree. He continues, “in collaboration each musician brings their individuality to the music and allowing them to do so makes the music better. When I embrace my bandmate’s contributions I find that the music can go places I hadn’t imagined. We have our own individual lives and projects, but when we perform together a unique entity is formed. What we create together is more powerful and beautiful than any single contribution.”

Mitcheltree has performed and recorded with masters of the jazz world: Clark Terry, Billy Taylor, George Cables, Bill Holman, Bob Moses, Jim McNeely, Howard Johnson, Gary Bartz, Kenny Werner, James Williams, Don Sickler, Charli Persip, Ronnie Matthews, Pete Yellin, Richie Cole, Bill Holman, Pete Christlieb, Doug Webb, Carl Saunders, Joe Labarbera, John Clayton, Christian Jacob and Bruce Forman along with contemporaries Uri Caine, Ingrid Jensen, Johannes Wallmann, Andy Milne and David Binney.

The saxophonist and composer was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Starting on oboe at the age of 12 and picking up the baritone sax for his school jazz band, Mitcheltree was interested in music from the outset. By the time he was in high school he concentrated exclusively on the tenor saxophone and discovering the rich history of jazz.

Turning down a scholarship to the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music's Jazz Program, Mitcheltree headed to the East Coast, choosing to enroll at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There he met like-minded students and could be found in the ensemble rooms of the college working on his music on a daily basis. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major in performance in 1987, and then made the move to New York.

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Album Review

Brooklyn by Jim Santella

"Mitcheltree's tenor is soulful, swinging, and street smart." Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

"Inside you'll find discipline, history, and a whole lot of heart."John Barrett, JazzUSA.com

" ...Mitcheltree's performance was a triumph..." Chuck Berg, Topeka Capital- Journal

"He is a master storyteller with the tenor sax..." Jared Donze, Iowa City Icon

"...the saxophonist is aggressively adventurous and most expressive...Mitcheltree evokes hearty tones from his instrument as he masterfully interweaves unexpected lines to create fascinating sound tapestries at any tempo." Nancy Ann Lee, Jazz Times

"Mitcheltree's tenor is soulful, swinging, and street smart." Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

"Inside you'll find discipline, history, and a whole lot of heart."John Barrett, JazzUSA.com

" ...Mitcheltree's performance was a triumph..." Chuck Berg, Topeka Capital- Journal

"He is a master storyteller with the tenor sax..." Jared Donze, Iowa City Icon

"...one of the area's best young tenor players...His album "Brooklyn" (Dengor) is one of the better records of the last two years." Martin Johnson, Newsday(NYC)

"Dennis Mitcheltree plays the tenor saxophone with steady self-assurance." Deni Kasrel, Jazz Times

"Mitcheltree's quartet is definitely hard-core NYC: tough sounding, aggressive, and complex. They swing hard, even at midtempo, as though all of them were percussionists, which infectiously pulls the listener into their complex conversations." Dave McElfresh, Jazz Now

"If you like your jazz virile, vital and post-bop, remember his name. To the names of Milwaukee's rising national jazz stars - including David Hazeltine, Brian Lynch, Carl Allen and Arriale - add Dennis Mitcheltree." Mike Drew, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Mitcheltree is a strong player and equally talented composer." Michael J. Renner, St. Louis Post- Dispatch

"...an awesome recording that every jazz enthusiast should become familiar with. This should be on your must get list; I have become a fan with the first listening - you will too." Michael L. Bolden, Brooklyn Advocate

"...he possesses a very tuneful melodic voice. Mitcheltree's tone is quite lovely...He's a solid player, all the way around." Chris Kelsey, Cadence

"He strolls with an elegant sound through the history of jazz in the classic saxophone trio format, and on a few tracks in a quartet setting with piano. Along with his reverence for the jazz masters he has an enthusiastically fresh approach to his music." Volker Marquardt, German daily newspaper, TAZ Hamburg

"He's a player whose appeal resides in his effortless textural patterns and unbroken tone..." The Jazz Report

"...an exquisitely new sound..." Leo Tignini, Brooklyn Advocate

"...talent like this will rejuvenate jazz for another generation." Chico Jazz Radio

"The music is beautiful." Shlomo Israeli, Israel Broadcasting

"...the spirit of the new jazz tradition." New York Post

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Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

Los Angeles

Credentials/Background

25 years as a teacher/clinician worldwide...Saxophone & woodwinds, any instrument for jazz improvisation/composition lessons, a New York City resident for 20 years, now based in the Los Angeles area. Video lessons also available via Skype. Available hours vary, contact [email protected] or 213-373-4729 for latest info. $85/hour lesson, discounts for weekly lessons paid by the month in advance. Berklee College of Music Magna Cum Laude graduate, Professional Performance Major, 1987. Studied with Joe Viola, Joe Lovano, Billy Pierce, George Garzone, Ralph Lalama and Jim McNeely.