F2K Ep.17: Flutist Nicole Mitchell

Fun 2 Know Podcast

Nicole Mitchell, flutist, composer and bandleader is our guest on today's show. . Around 2001, Ms. Mitchell began to receive notice for her work around Chicago, quickly releasing a flurry of releases on the Delmark, RougeArt nad Firehouse 12 labels, all capturing her spirited flute and her deep well of memorable compositions. Her reputation began to stretch out to Europe and worldwide collecting accolades and commissions and fronting groups like The Black Earth Ensemble, The Black Earth Strings, Ice Crystal and Sonic Projections. In 2009, she became the first female President of the AACM, the legendary Chicago-born collective whose initials stand for The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and has been home to many of the greatest jazz musicians of the last fifty years. Ms Mitchell has been a Downbeat poll winner, was the Chicago Tribune's 2006 "Person of the Year," and in recent years has left her home in Chicago to live and teach in California at UC Irvine. If musically Mitchell wears her passions on her sleeve, she did in conversation too, easily discussing family dearths, the racism and other obstacles she has faced as well as her worries and fears. But she also laughs easily and often. We talked about musicians Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy and her teacher Jimmie Cheatem as well as The Hunger Games, the travails of being an adjunct professor, jazz in Chicago, dwindling student diversity, the writings of sci-fi author Octavia Butler and more.