Mitch Mitchell, the drummer on legendary Jimi Hendrix recordings such as Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, First Rays Of The New Rising Sun and others, passed away 11 November 2008 in Portland, Oregon.
Together with John Bonham and Ginger Baker, Mitchell was one of the greatest British rock drummers of the 60s. I always like Mitchell, because he brought some Elvin Jones into the mix and his style melded to brilliant effect with Hendrix’ guitar. In fact, Hendrix referred to Mitchell as “my Elvin Jones“, and he was essentially to Jimi as Elvin was to Coltrane.
Some of my favourite tracks drum-wise are:
- Fire [funky as hell, landmark groove]
- Manic Depression [groovy 9/8, Elvinish]
- Up From The Skies [swingin' the brushes]
- Little Miss Lover [very cool feel with bass drum syncopations]
- Third Stone From The Sun [trippy, jazzy]
- Bold As Love [amazing phased drums, beautiful]
- If 6 Was 9 [polyrhythms, Elvinish, open feel]
- Little Wing [musical fills, light touch]
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) [interplay with Jimi]
Admitted, this are no weak tracks on the first two Jimi Hendrix Experience albums! Bold As Love is one of my all-time favourite albums, and the first album is up there, too.
R.I.P. Mitch Mitchell.
Mitch Mitchell at drummerworld
Associated Press Obiturary
BBC Obituary
Jimi Hendrix Experience playing “Fire” in London:
Hendrix, Mitchell and Billy Cox at Maui:
Mitch Mitchell on working with Jimi:
