Born in Brooklyn many moons ago, Mitchel began studying classical piano at age 7. Shortly after graduating from Manhattan School of Music, Mitch began touring and recording with Gerry Mulligan, playing in both his big band and quartet. Work with Stan Getz followed. In 1980 his solo career began with a piano performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. This recording became Mitch’s first album, “Live at Newport”.
The next few years brought new challenges with work on the road with Phil Woods, Carla Bley, Mel Torme, and Astrud Gilberto. He also recorded two solo piano albums for Soul Note and toured in Europe regularly. Mitch spent the early 80′s as one of the most sought after studio musicians in New York, working with a multitude of gifted artists (see discography) not the least of whom was guitarist John McLaughlin.

Mitch joined McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra and spent a year and a half on the road with McLaughlin, recording and contributing to two of the band’s benchmark recordings – the seminal “Mahavishnu” and “Adventures in Radioland”. He then joined legendary ex-Weather Report saxophonist Wayne Shorter, touring, recording and contributing to Shorter’s “Phantom Navigator”.

With all this world-class experience under his belt he naturally progressed to leading his own band and recorded his group debut for Windham Hill, “Train of Thought”. At the same time he continued to work with other luminaries like guitarist John Scofield (“Blue Matter”), Mike Stern (“Upside Downside”) Janis Siegal, Dave Samuels, Diane Schuur, Gary Burton (Reunion GRP), Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Simon Phillips, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Evans, and Ricki Lee Jones.

Mitchel also is a composer of note, having scored two films and written numerous TV commercials. He currently writes for CBS television as a member of LA based Diamond Mine Productions. Mitch continues to record and play under his own name and has recently started his own record label, “Marsis Jazz”. His most recent releases have been “Puzzle” (reaching #27 on the US Airplay chart 09/15), “Sing Along With Mitch”, “Perspectives” “Mr. Clean” and “Patience”. He currently works with many jazz artists around LA. He is performing with his trio around Los Angeles at clubs such as Catalina Jazz, the Blue Whale, and the Baked Potato.

Mitchel also records and produces for many artists around the LA community as well as playing on many European recordings. A partial list of his recorded work can be found here. Mitchel is also on staff at the Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena, CA. Please check out mitchelforman.com to hear some of his work.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Music | State University of New York
Diploma | Manhattan School of Music

SIMILAR FACULTY