INTRODUCTION
My home is in Los Angeles. I freelance as a side man or band leader playing acoustic and electric guitars and singing in English, Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole. My specialty is in Jazz and Brazilian music but have worked extensively in many idioms; Blues, R&B, African, Latin, pop, rock and many other world music styles.
I also compose, perform, arrange and record my own original music for many projects including with The Mitchell Long Group, Cabo Verde Cretcheu and Cafe Atlantico. My demo CD's are available in all styles and have finished a record with Tropics to be released soon. You can listen to some of this materiel here at Mitchell Long Music.
Available solo, duo, trio, quartet or quintet for live performance in all styles. Contact me directly for concert performances, recording studio, arranging, producing, club dates, private parties, corporate events and weddings. I am well prepared for any type of event or venue with sound systems and a vast roster of veteran side men.
RECENT CREDITS:
Recent high profile touring and recording gigs include 6 years with the popular Cape Verdean singer Maria de Barros, recording an album with Angolan legend Waldemar Bastos, touring with British Pop star Julia Fordham and performances with Brazilian Jazz composer and virtuoso pianist Rique Pantoja. I freelance in the studio or on stage with various artists: Sambaguru, The Latin Project, Katia Moraes and Pure Samba, Tropics Trio, DJ NuMark, Jon Gilutin, Elizabeth Lammers, Ritchie Garcia and Jose Marino, Carol Bach y Rita and Larry Steen.
PRIVATE LESSONS:
I teach privately at home in West Toluca Lake. My focus is on Jazz and Brazilian guitar styles with an emphasis on understanding soloing, chord soloing, rhythm section concepts and strong groove or feel. I take students of all instruments who study jazz Brazilian and other styles of rhythm section playing or soloing. I taught privately for 10 years through the University of Colorado Boulder and the liberal arts school Naropa institute
HISTORY
My 28 years in music as a professional acoustic and electric guitarist, bass payer, singer, percussionist and teacher while living in San Diego, Boulder, NYC, Spain, and Los Angeles has taken me on a musical odyssey working in jazz, world music, blues, funk, pop, rock, country, bluegrass, salsa, bolero, flamenco, classical music.
I was born to an artistic and musical heritage: my Grandmother was a music teacher; my mother Mary Ellen Long is a fine artist who plays classical piano. Beginning playing the guitar at age eight, I started playing folk songs, later getting into rock, blues, bluegrass, Motown and R&B and finally into Jazz. I am a self taught artist but my serious interest in Jazz took me to Berklee College of Music in Boston: 1981-82’ and Naropa Institute 1983-85’ continuing private studies with Peter Sprague, Joe Pass, Jimmy Ponder, Rene Heredia, Fred Hess, Art Lande, Bill Douglas, Meia Noite, Bill Summers, and Michael Spiro.
Credits include live and studio work with Julia Fordham, Waldemar Bastos, Maria de Barros, Rique Pantoja, Sambaguru, Katia Moraes, Sergio Mendes, Usher, Vinx, Ozomatli, Ron Miles, Claudio Roditi, Herbie Mann, Dr Lonnie Smith, Paul Mcandless, Art Lande, Peter Sprague, Claudio Slon, Rudy Love and the Love Family, The Organ Grinders, Pat Bianci, Pau Brasil, Hazel Miller, Brad Upton, Nelson Rangel, Mary Ann Moore, Angela Hagenbach, Rare Silk, Eric Gunnison and Wake Up Call, Brad Upton Quintet, Marguerite Juenemann, Chuck Lamb and Theano Anifantakis, Barry Wedgle, Sonya Vallet, Kim Stone, and Joe Bonner. Touring throughout Europe, Canada, Brazil, Africa the Caribbean and the United States.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AS SIDE-MAN
Playing electric and acoustic guitars in recent gigs with the incomparable composer/pianist RIQUE PANTOJA's Brazilian jazz group in Los Angeles. The band featuring many Latin jazz giants; Abraham Laboriel, Justo Almario, Walter Rodriguez and John Pena.
The great honor of playing guitar and singing with one of dearest and most fiercley talented mentors, the extraordinary BILLY TOLLES (an astounding bandleader - entertainer and veteran of Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, and Louis Jordan’s bands) Billy passed away recently at 83 years old. Playing with him was indeed like getting a paid education in straight ahead jazz, blues and r&b. Recordings with Billy include three tracks on CD releases by KUVO jazz radio station in Denver and a trio cut with Lannie Garret, Billy Tolles and myself.
A childhood dream come true was working with Innerscope record’s THE LOW AND SWEET ORCHESTRA, formed by Zander Shloss. Zander is one of my biggest musical influences early on and my best friend since high school. He is a punk rock icon now! (Joe Strummer Band, Circle Jerks, The Weirdos, and Two Free Stooges etc) I completed four tours with Low and Sweet, playing Mandolin, Dobro, Guitar, and singing. This twelve piece Celtic rock group also featured actor Dermott Mulroney, and James Fearley of The Pogues.
An ongoing highlight is working closely with world class vocalist - percussionist VINX. In the past 15 years I toured in his various groups to promote I.R.S Releases; Rooms in my Fathers House, I Love My Job (produced by Sting), and Storybook etc. We performed throughout the U.S. and Europe, playing at prestigious events like the Aspen Jazz Festival, Du Marier Jazz Festival, Brussels Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and at venues The House of Blues, SOB’s, The Troubadour, Lisner Auditorium, and Whiskey Ago-go. Band members include Bill Summers, Andrew Daniels, Greg Poree, Mark E. Smith and special guests live or in recordings featured George Howard, Stuart Copeland, Brenda Russell, Stevie Wonder, Munyungo Jackson, Cassandra Wilson, Harvey Mason, and Zapp Mama…
Other career highlight include opening shows, sharing the stage with many world class acts including Dave Brubeck, Mcoy Tyner, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Manhattan Transfer, Joe Zawinul, Los Hombres Calientes, BB King, Jackson Brown, Pat Metheny, Maceo Parker, The Meters, Stanely Clark, The Yellowjackets, Le Tete Brulees, Olodum, and Airto & Flora etc.
SELECTION OF CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AS BAND-LEADER:
“BANDA” A Brazilian jazz quintet formed by myself and the late Claudio Slon; the legendary drummer of Astrud Gilberto, Walter Wanderley, Sergio Mendes, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Sinatra. We were the house band at Vartan's Jazz Club in Denver Colorado for a few years. “Banda” featured my arrangements and Denver’s finest jazz musicians: Eduardo Bijoux Barbosa on bass, Jeff Jenkins or Eric Gunnison on piano, and Bob Rebholz or Peter Sommer on woodwinds. We backed up national touring jazz artists, and played in Aspen, Breckenridge, Vail, and Denver jazz festivals and other concerts. We recorded live on KUVO radio and released a seven-song studio demo.
“CORNERSTONE” The high-energy jazz project featuring Rippingtons Bassist Kim Stone, extraordinary pianist Jeff Jenkins and formed by Brazilian drumming virtuoso Henrique de Almeida. We had a house gig at a jazz club in Colorado Springs and were featured twice in the Breckenridge and Aspen jazz festivals. We played original music and do arrangements of jazz, fusion, Latin jazz, and world music.
“HI-FI MO-FO” The eclectic 7 piece dance band I formed in Boulder, Colorado. I started playing my original music and developing my genre jumping sound in the very successful two year house gig at Round' Midnight. We also played often at the Fox Theatre opening for The Meters, Charlie Hunter, and Roots Revolt etc...
"THE ORGAN GRINDERS" My organ trio led by myself and master of jazz and blues organ Gordon Sims. The group recorded a live demo CD with some cuts featured here on the website. "The Organ Grinders is for music lovers who really appreciate good musicians. They have a back to basics sound that is brought out by Gordon Sims on the Hammond B-3 organ. Mix this with some soulful singing and you have got a serious and deep groove experience! The music ranges from Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Bossa Nova. Gordon Sims: Hammond B3 Organ, Mitchell Long: Guitar and vocals, Kevin Smith: Drums."
"THE GUITAR QUARTET" This Boulder Colorado based group featured myself and guitarist Mark Klagstad with Mark Diamond and Charles Ayash. We played straight ahead jazz with a focus on many Wes Montgomery tunes and a varied and interesting repertoire.
SOLO GIGS: I have had many residency gigs as a solo guitarist and singer at many music venues, bars, and fine restaurants. Highlights include “Café Mars” for 3 years and “Envie” for a year playing in a concert style setting every week. Currently I am performing solo at Taste of Brazil restaurant in Los Angeles every Friday Night. I consider performing solo a forte developed over years of solo gigs. Appearences include opening shows for well known jazz, pop and world music artists in world class concert halls.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
MITCHELL LONG GROUP:
Brazilian music and beyond - A luscious vibe of seductive and groovy sambas, funky electric or romantic acoustic guitar, arrangements with urban hypnotic hip-hop beats, jazz harmonies, world beat percussion and Brazilian Portuguese, English and Crioulo vocals. A tropical high-energy mix of roots and modern music sounds that will inspire you to get up, get down and get Brazil, north and south America, Cape Verde and Africa in your heart and soul. You will want to listen to it and you will be moving your body too!
Mitchell's trademark genre jumping fits with the wide array of tastes in a music lovers palette. Mitchell Long Group features a world class band covering classic sambas and Mitchell's fresh arrangements of music by many “MPB” artists like Gilberto Gil or Djavan as well as the mélange of tunes by Brazil's “Mangue beat” artists like Chico Cesar and Lenine. Mitchell's last 5 years touring with Cape Verdean star Maria de Barros gave him a deep understanding and love for Cape Verdean music. Vocals in Cape Verdean Creole and covers of Cesaria Evora, Boy Ge, Nancy Vieira and other Cape Verdean standards. The group also features many of Mitchell Long's original compositions with neo soul, jam band, funky, Cape Verdean, Jazz, African and Caribbean music influences
The trio, quartet or quintet may feature some of LA's finest musicians; Jose "Zelao" Marino on bass, Ritchie Garcia on percussion, Frank Zotolli on piano, Enzo Todesco on drums, Dilma Barros on vocals, Will Phillips on percussion, Matt Spencer on bass, Cristiano Novelli on drums and Pablo Medina on pian. In Colorado the group featured for many years: The legendary Claudio Slon on drums, Raoul de Rossiter on drums, Jeff Jenkins on piano, Eric Gunnison on piano, Bob Rebholz on woodwinds, Peter Sommer on woodwinds, Bijoux on bass and Mark Simon on bass.
http://www.myspace.com/mitchelllonggroup
CABO VERDE CRETCHEU
Featuring the undeniable heart and soul of Dilma Barros direct from the charming city Mindelo, Cabo Verde singing in her native language of Creole. Dilma has a sincere and charming stage presence that comes naturally from being born and raised in a musical family. Her father the legendary cavaquinho player "Artur" worked with Cesaria Evora. And Dilma's sister Diva is an award winning and internationally known singer.
CABO VERDE CRETCHEU also features the well established guitarist, vocalist and composer Mitchell Long (Maria de Barros, Waldemar Bastos, Sambaguru and Vinx) as arranger, music director and composer of many songs in creole and the traditional genres. Mitchell has adopted the authentic Cape Verdean music in his heart after 7 years working with many of the best C.V. musicians around the world and in Cape Verde islands. Credits include work with the legendary Djosinha, virtuoso guitarist Bau, Diva (Dilma's sister) and over six years touring and recording with Maria de Barros.
CVC also features: Jean Pierre: Cavaquinho, Tom Moose: Violin, Matt Spencer: Bass, Simon Carrol: Drums.
Visit Cabo Verde Cretcheu on myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/caboverdecretcheu
Come see us every Sunday by the Marina in Marina Del Rey, CA:
CAFE ATLANTICO
All across the Atlantic you can discover some of the richest musical heritages in the world like Brazil, Cape Verde, Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas which cross-pollinate the Trans-Atlantic sound of this innovative and exciting Jazz trio. Featuring drums, bass, acoustic guitar and vocals in Portuguese, Crioulo and English. Cafe Atlantico looks at the music and influence of the African and European Diaspora throughout many Atlantic destinations.
Brazil's jazz tinged Bossa Nova, with composers and artists such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Luiz Bonfa, and Dorival Caymmi or the more contemporary Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento and Djavan of the "MPB" and samba styles.
The Cape Verdean archipelago, home of world music diva Cesaria Evora and the irresistibly charming coladeras, mornas or the African influenced batuque.
The Caribbean islands music with so many undeniably defining artists and styles and finally North America's deep jazz and blues tradition which has shaped the careers of these three world class musicians.
Mitchell Long provides the syncopated acoustic guitar and voice of Café Atlantico. Born in La Jolla, California to a family of artists and musicians, he brings over 25 years of professional experience to the group. A world class guitarist who sings beautifully in English, Portuguese and Crioulo, he has worked on many recordings, and performed in renowned venues and festivals around the world. Credits include work with Herbie Mann, Claudio Roditi, Vinx, Angela Hagenbach, Maria De Barros, Rare Silk, Rique Pantoja, Sambaguru and Dr. Lonnie Smith.
Larry Steen - Bass “A giant of the not-too-distant future” declared the distinguished jazz critic Leonard Feather of bassist/composer/producer Larry Steen. Larry has performed live and in the studio with artists that include Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Dave Weckl, Bob Sheppard, Mose Allison, Billy Eckstine, Billy Childs, Louis Bellson and Jimmy Buffet. He has performed at such prestigious music festivals as the Montreux, North Sea and Playboy Jazz Festivals, etc.
Enzo Todesco began his music studies in Zurich, Switzerland at the age of four and was playing in his father's "Trio Todesco" by the time he was six and at age sixteen Enzo began touring with Top pop, Jazz and Funk Bands. Enzo has established his reputation as a world class drummer, programmer, and all-around musician through his impeccable technique, feel and professionalism. Enzo regularly performs and records with some of the world's finest musicians and artists around the world. Credits include Gino Vannelli, Randy Crawford, Frank Gambale.
TROPICS
Tropics is the Los Angeles based group playing a wide variety of music including Brazilian, Latin, straight ahead Jazz and many popular styles. The group is founded by the extraordinary Bass player Jose Marino and features Mitchell long on guitar and vocals as well as a roster of world class musicians.
Tropics is a truly versatile and world class musical outfit available for any type of event or concert setting and can be available as a duo, trio or in full band instrumentation. You can sit back and listen to the soothing sounds or enjoy dancing to your favorite songs with the vast repertoire available.
listen to some of the tracks from an upcoming CD release @ myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/tropicsgroup
This CD was recorded live with some keyboard (Frank Zottoli) and percussion (Ritchie Garcia) overdubs. Should be available soon! Tropics is a versatile band available for any event or concert and ranging from duo to full band instrumentation.
EQUIPMENT
Six string Takamine classical with a special pickup and mic system added.
7 string classical concert classical handmade by Julian Gido
One of a kind prototype George Benson Ibanez handmade hollowbody jazz guitar
Hand picked and custom Fender Jeff Beck model Stratocaster
Yamaha steel string acoustic
Godin nylon string, Godin steel string, Godin twelve string.
Flatiron Mandolin
Two brazilian Cavaquinho and a Banjo Cavaquinho
A custom tres
Dobro
5 string Warwick bass.
Mesa Boogie MarkIV amp, Roland Jazz Chorus 120 amp, Polytone amp, and many stomp boxes and rackmount effects!
I specialize in playing (with 18 years experience) the popular brazilian tamborine or "Pandeiro" I have 10 or more pandeiros and have developed my own techniques to play all kinds of rhythms.
I also play and have Conga, Bongo, Agogo, Bells, Wood Blocks, Tamborim, Shakers, Shekere, Reco-Reco, Cuica, Tan-Tan, Surdo, Udu, Berimbau, Talking Drum, Afoxe, Rain Stick, Whistles, Chimes etc.
State of the art sound system for small to medium sized venues:
Mackie 12 channel mixer and Mackie M1400i power, two Mackie Powered monitors and two EV-1202 Main speakers. I have a partner with a full sound system for a large group and big venue with engineer.
I have a small home studio for demo production featuring a Yamaha AW2816 Pro Audio Workstation, Baby Blue Bottle Mic and Grace Design Pre-Amp.