Donovan Mixon Jazz Guitarist from Evanston, IL

Jazz guitarist/Recording artist. I play great solo jazz guitar renditions of famous jazz standards with and without backing tracks for cocktails, receptions, private house parties, clubs, conferences etc. –– just about anywhere live music is desired. As a soloist, I take up very little room and play at volumes appropriate for the setting. If you wish, I can bring along a bassist to play as a duo. I also have a drummer and pianist with whom I perform in various settings. I would be very happy to bring my full quartet to your event. I always arrive on time, dressed appropriately. I only need an armless chair, a short table for my mixer and access to an electrical outlet. Biography: Donovan Mixon received his M.M. in 1985 from Manhattan School of Music in Jazz/Commercial Music. His final project, Culmination, scored for chamber orchestra and jazz rhythm section, earned him an NEA fellowship in jazz composition. After seven years on the faculty at Berklee College of Music, rising to the rank of Associate Professor, Mr. Mixon moved to Italy for professional development. As a freelance musical artist and educator, he led jazz combos at clubs and festivals around the country and taught as a visiting lecturer at many schools of music. During this period his text Performance Ear Training and his first two CD recordings, Look Ma, No Hands! and Language of the Emotions were published. He also recorded the compact disk Free With Lee, with the great Lee Konitz. In 2000, Mr. Mixon joined the music department at Istanbul Bilgi University, specializing in aural studies, guitar and jazz studies. Later, in Istanbul, he opened, Jazz-Play Studio, and continued his research in aural studies and jazz improvisation. His world-jazz recording, Culmination, landed upon jazzchicago.net's list of Top Chicago Recordings of 2010. In May of this year, Mr. Mixon celebrated the opening of Jazz-Play Studio in Evanston, Illinois. As with the Istanbul studio, he continues with lessons workshops in ear training and jazz improvisation. His most recent recording: "We Play When We Play" was released on The double quintet Cd features Donovan Mixon's guitar with two rhythm sections. Trumpeter Eddie Henderson and saxophonist George Garzone are featured soloists on many of the tracks.