Doug Mitchell RIP

[Larry Kart]

My longtime (since high school) friend Doug Mitchell has died at age 76. Doug was an excellent jazz drummer, might have been world-class if he had tried to make it as a professional, but other interests took precedence, though he played regularly for most of his adult life. Doug was best known as an editor at the U. of Chicago Press, particularly in the field of sociology. He more or less launched the field of gender studies:

https://pressblog.uchicago.edu/2018/11/29/a-notable-retirement-a-reorganization-of-responsibilities-and-two-promotions-a-new-era-at-the-university-of-chicago-press.html

[ghost of miles]

Very sorry to hear this, Larry.  It sounds as if he made quite a cultural contribution.  Given your nearly lifelong friendship, I'm sure that's quite a loss to bear.  Thanks for sharing this here on the board.

[Larry Kart]

A bit more about Doug's musical background. Doug got the jazz bug when he was a freshman in H.S. in a northern suburb of Chicago. Determined to improve his skills and hipness, he spent much of the summer between freshman and sophomore years up in his attic, practicing to Max Roach records. When he emerged in the fall, he was VERY good. Eventually he became the drummer in our quite good informal high school jazz band (Ann Margret was the  band's decorative vocalist); Doug replaced the graduating Steve Bagby, who would go on to work and record with Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan, Over time Doug's drumming tastes changed somewhat, shifting from Max to Philly Joe Jones. Eventually, he favored Roy Haynes above all. A fine accompanist, Doug was a superb soloist; everything he played told a story/made sense. He was a swinger first and foremost but could function in "free" settings quite well; on the famous (in some quarters) occasion, IIRC it was in 1965, when Joseph Jarman shared the stage with John Cage, Doug was the drummer. In later years, he played virtually every Sunday night at a session Jimmy Woodlawn Tap in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, where he lived. Among the graduates of those sessions were altoist Matana Roberts and guitarist Nate Radley.

[Chuck Nessa]

Sorry to hear this.