Biography
Bassist Tyler Mitchell has spent his career weaving jazz conventions together with experimental impulses, supporting vocalists like Shirley Horn and Jon Hendricks while also serving in the Sun Ra Arkestra. His tone on the instrument carries substantial weight, yet he maintains both sensitivity and a swinging feel. Born in Chicago in 1958, he grew up as the son of painter and muralist Caton Mitchell, whose friendships included John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Max Roach. Mitchell took lessons from Donald Raphael Garrett, known for work with Coltrane, Archie Shepp, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, as well as Malachi Favors of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and he appeared alongside Von Freeman and Paris Smith before relocating to New York in 1984.
Upon arrival he entered the Sun Ra Arkestra, traveling with the ensemble through Japan and Europe and recording Reflections in Blue and Hours After during 1986 sessions in Italy for Black Saint. He also performed in the Steve Grossman Trio that included Art Taylor, later becoming a member of Art Taylor’s Wailers and appearing on the live recording Wailin’ at the Vanguard. Further associations in that period encompassed tours with Jon Hendricks, captured on the 1990 album Freddie Freeloader, and a contribution to Shirley Horn’s 1993 release Light out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles). Additional sideman work later in the decade featured Rashied Ali, Frank Lowe, and Larry Goldings.
In 2000 Mitchell relocated to Mexico and subsequently visited Cuba and South America, collaborating extensively with Latin jazz artists and especially pianist Gabriel Hernandez in both trio and quintet formats. He assembled the psychedelic jazz ensemble TamoTyler Experience in 2008 with performer and vocalist TaMo TuMa, guitarist Ken Basman, and drummer Hernan Hecht. Around 2011 he returned to New York, resumed his connection with the Arkestra, and has continued to tour and record with the group. His first album under his own name, Live at Smalls, was taped at Greenwich Village’s Smalls Jazz Club in 2012 and issued by the venue; he also performed in a trio alongside pianist Spike Wilner, who manages the club. Mitchell appeared on the Arkestra’s 2020 studio album Swirling and, joined by Marshall Allen, participated in the 2022 release Dancing Shadows, which presented compositions by Sun Ra, Thelonious Monk, alto saxophonist Nicoletta Manzini, and Mitchell himself. That same year he and Allen issued Sun Ra’s Journey on Cellar Live.
Upon arrival he entered the Sun Ra Arkestra, traveling with the ensemble through Japan and Europe and recording Reflections in Blue and Hours After during 1986 sessions in Italy for Black Saint. He also performed in the Steve Grossman Trio that included Art Taylor, later becoming a member of Art Taylor’s Wailers and appearing on the live recording Wailin’ at the Vanguard. Further associations in that period encompassed tours with Jon Hendricks, captured on the 1990 album Freddie Freeloader, and a contribution to Shirley Horn’s 1993 release Light out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles). Additional sideman work later in the decade featured Rashied Ali, Frank Lowe, and Larry Goldings.
In 2000 Mitchell relocated to Mexico and subsequently visited Cuba and South America, collaborating extensively with Latin jazz artists and especially pianist Gabriel Hernandez in both trio and quintet formats. He assembled the psychedelic jazz ensemble TamoTyler Experience in 2008 with performer and vocalist TaMo TuMa, guitarist Ken Basman, and drummer Hernan Hecht. Around 2011 he returned to New York, resumed his connection with the Arkestra, and has continued to tour and record with the group. His first album under his own name, Live at Smalls, was taped at Greenwich Village’s Smalls Jazz Club in 2012 and issued by the venue; he also performed in a trio alongside pianist Spike Wilner, who manages the club. Mitchell appeared on the Arkestra’s 2020 studio album Swirling and, joined by Marshall Allen, participated in the 2022 release Dancing Shadows, which presented compositions by Sun Ra, Thelonious Monk, alto saxophonist Nicoletta Manzini, and Mitchell himself. That same year he and Allen issued Sun Ra’s Journey on Cellar Live.
Albums
Singles
Live
